MD80 crew had track deviation in ZLA class a.

Attributes
ACN	490140
Time
Date	200010
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : blh.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	490140
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	489538
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Company Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Course deviation. Due to cloud deviations prior to thermal I switched from gfms to heading select and set an outbound heading of 078 degrees to intercept J169 to blythe. After answering a call from the cabin I started to reprogram the gfms to intercept J169. The first officer noted we were drifting north off course due to a 52 KT crosswind. I selected a heading of 095 degrees to correct back on course and then ZLA told us to turn to a 350 degree heading and expedite climb to FL330. ZLA also told air carrier airlines 'heading in the opposite direction,' to turn to a heading of 350 degrees. We were informed of their position and saw them east of our position and descending. Air carrier also stated that we were in sight. Once proper separation was determined we were vectored back on course. Summary: I should have noted the winds when selecting a heading out of thermal and had the first officer answer the call from the cabin. With proper prioritizing this incident would not have happened. Supplemental information from acn 489538: after deviating around some WX, we proceeded to the thermal VOR and turned on course to blythe. I confirmed the frequency and course outbound and proceeded to put my departure chart away. The winds were 220 degrees, 50 KTS, crosswind, and the captain was in the heading select mode while he programmed the FMS. At the same time we received a call from the flight attendant and the captain answered it. Shortly after, I noticed that we had drifted off course and I informed the captain, who immediately turned to intercept the course. ZLA then called and instructed us to turn to a 350 degree heading and expedite our climb. Center also instructed a jet to turn to a 350 degree heading. On a 350 degree heading we spotted the traffic east of us and descending. After the traffic passed below us and proper separation was established, ZLA turned us back on course. I understand that it is the flight crew's responsibility to maintain course awareness and we should have been more diligent in doing so.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD TRACK DEV IN ZLA CLASS A.

Narrative: COURSE DEV. DUE TO CLOUD DEVS PRIOR TO THERMAL I SWITCHED FROM GFMS TO HEADING SELECT AND SET AN OUTBOUND HEADING OF 078 DEGS TO INTERCEPT J169 TO BLYTHE. AFTER ANSWERING A CALL FROM THE CABIN I STARTED TO REPROGRAM THE GFMS TO INTERCEPT J169. THE FO NOTED WE WERE DRIFTING N OFF COURSE DUE TO A 52 KT XWIND. I SELECTED A HEADING OF 095 DEGS TO CORRECT BACK ON COURSE AND THEN ZLA TOLD US TO TURN TO A 350 DEG HDG AND EXPEDITE CLB TO FL330. ZLA ALSO TOLD ACR AIRLINES 'HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,' TO TURN TO A HEADING OF 350 DEGS. WE WERE INFORMED OF THEIR POS AND SAW THEM E OF OUR POS AND DSNDING. ACR ALSO STATED THAT WE WERE IN SIGHT. ONCE PROPER SEPARATION WAS DETERMINED WE WERE VECTORED BACK ON COURSE. SUMMARY: I SHOULD HAVE NOTED THE WINDS WHEN SELECTING A HEADING OUT OF THERMAL AND HAD THE FO ANSWER THE CALL FROM THE CABIN. WITH PROPER PRIORITIZING THIS INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 489538: AFTER DEVIATING AROUND SOME WX, WE PROCEEDED TO THE THERMAL VOR AND TURNED ON COURSE TO BLYTHE. I CONFIRMED THE FREQ AND COURSE OUTBOUND AND PROCEEDED TO PUT MY DEP CHART AWAY. THE WINDS WERE 220 DEGS, 50 KTS, XWIND, AND THE CAPT WAS IN THE HEADING SELECT MODE WHILE HE PROGRAMMED THE FMS. AT THE SAME TIME WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT AND THE CAPT ANSWERED IT. SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THAT WE HAD DRIFTED OFF COURSE AND I INFORMED THE CAPT, WHO IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO INTERCEPT THE COURSE. ZLA THEN CALLED AND INSTRUCTED US TO TURN TO A 350 DEG HDG AND EXPEDITE OUR CLB. CTR ALSO INSTRUCTED A JET TO TURN TO A 350 DEG HDG. ON A 350 DEG HDG WE SPOTTED THE TFC E OF US AND DSNDING. AFTER THE TFC PASSED BELOW US AND PROPER SEPARATION WAS ESTABLISHED, ZLA TURNED US BACK ON COURSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THE FLC'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN COURSE AWARENESS AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENT IN DOING SO.

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.