Narrative:

In explanation to the event, I was cruising along north of portland, or, at an assigned altitude of 6000 ft MSL on victor airway V112 with an IFR clearance. I dialed in the wrong course as I left the btg VOR eastbound. As a consequence I flew off course and was vectored back on course by the controller and set the proper course into the instrument. In the confusion, I possibly busted the assigned altitude also. Fortunately for me and others, I was in VMC at the time on top of a broken cloud layer with at least 50 mi visibility with no other close traffic in sight. As far as I know there were no other aircraft vectored because of my actions. I have not had that misfortune previously, it certainly was not intentional and I was pleased for the assistance from the controller. He acted in a very professional manner and was very courteous and understanding. I would have much preferred he had not had to correct me. That was a very humiliating experience, which I care not to undergo again. Up to this point I have never had a citation and the experience itself is enough penalty for me as I have always prided myself in having full regard for the regulations. I understand there is a reason for them.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT CROSSED BTG VOR AND MISDIALED HIS CDI OUTBOUND, CAUSING THE CTLR TO VECTOR HIM BACK ON COURSE.

Narrative: IN EXPLANATION TO THE EVENT, I WAS CRUISING ALONG N OF PORTLAND, OR, AT AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 6000 FT MSL ON VICTOR AIRWAY V112 WITH AN IFR CLRNC. I DIALED IN THE WRONG COURSE AS I LEFT THE BTG VOR EBOUND. AS A CONSEQUENCE I FLEW OFF COURSE AND WAS VECTORED BACK ON COURSE BY THE CTLR AND SET THE PROPER COURSE INTO THE INST. IN THE CONFUSION, I POSSIBLY BUSTED THE ASSIGNED ALT ALSO. FORTUNATELY FOR ME AND OTHERS, I WAS IN VMC AT THE TIME ON TOP OF A BROKEN CLOUD LAYER WITH AT LEAST 50 MI VISIBILITY WITH NO OTHER CLOSE TFC IN SIGHT. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT VECTORED BECAUSE OF MY ACTIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD THAT MISFORTUNE PREVIOUSLY, IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT INTENTIONAL AND I WAS PLEASED FOR THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CTLR. HE ACTED IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND WAS VERY COURTEOUS AND UNDERSTANDING. I WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED HE HAD NOT HAD TO CORRECT ME. THAT WAS A VERY HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE, WHICH I CARE NOT TO UNDERGO AGAIN. UP TO THIS POINT I HAVE NEVER HAD A CITATION AND THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF IS ENOUGH PENALTY FOR ME AS I HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED MYSELF IN HAVING FULL REGARD FOR THE REGS. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A REASON FOR THEM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.