An EMB145 captain became confused during the ewr 6 SID and turned the wrong way.

Attributes
ACN	487840
Time
Date	200010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : ewr 6
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	487840
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was told to fly heading to intercept 350 degrees from col VOR. Being unfamiliar with area, and the quick pace at which things were happening, we placed wrong frequency in navigation. We went past course and were instructed to turn to different heading to intercept. Factors were: 1) fast pace, 2) unfamiliar area, 3) using ewr 6 departure SID. Our first fix was white. On preflight we discussed going to white and our course after that. After white is coyne VOR. When told to intercept colts neck 350 degree radial, I mistakenly associated coyne VOR (cyn) with colts neck because they both start with 'co.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 CAPT BECAME CONFUSED DURING THE EWR 6 SID AND TURNED THE WRONG WAY.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD TO FLY HEADING TO INTERCEPT 350 DEGS FROM COL VOR. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH AREA, AND THE QUICK PACE AT WHICH THINGS WERE HAPPENING, WE PLACED WRONG FREQ IN NAV. WE WENT PAST COURSE AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO DIFFERENT HEADING TO INTERCEPT. FACTORS WERE: 1) FAST PACE, 2) UNFAMILIAR AREA, 3) USING EWR 6 DEP SID. OUR FIRST FIX WAS WHITE. ON PREFLT WE DISCUSSED GOING TO WHITE AND OUR COURSE AFTER THAT. AFTER WHITE IS COYNE VOR. WHEN TOLD TO INTERCEPT COLTS NECK 350 DEG RADIAL, I MISTAKENLY ASSOCIATED COYNE VOR (CYN) WITH COLTS NECK BECAUSE THEY BOTH START WITH 'CO.'

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.