Medium large transport crew turned to wrong fix programmed into FMS.

Attributes
ACN	501200
Time
Date	200102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lar.vortac
State Reference	WY
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1286
ASRS Report	501200
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were just west of lar at FL310 when center called to confirm our routing after lar. As the PNF, I replied that we were cleared direct ocs dta flight plan route after lar. As I looked down at the FMC, I noticed that puc was the active waypoint. ATC issued a 20 degree right turn for ocs. I entered ocs in the FMC and proceeded direct. No loss of separation was observed by this reporter. I believe this incident was caused by a breakdown in SOP. I was working with many problems during the preflight phase. New first officer. Takeoff altitude required, unable to communicate with dispatch due to no ACARS. Had congested commercial radio frequency, low visibility, deicing, etc. Bottom line is, we got consumed in these matters and I never insured the verification of the new route in the FMC by the first officer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW TURNED TO WRONG FIX PROGRAMMED INTO FMS.

Narrative: WE WERE JUST W OF LAR AT FL310 WHEN CTR CALLED TO CONFIRM OUR ROUTING AFTER LAR. AS THE PNF, I REPLIED THAT WE WERE CLRED DIRECT OCS DTA FLT PLAN RTE AFTER LAR. AS I LOOKED DOWN AT THE FMC, I NOTICED THAT PUC WAS THE ACTIVE WAYPOINT. ATC ISSUED A 20 DEG R TURN FOR OCS. I ENTERED OCS IN THE FMC AND PROCEEDED DIRECT. NO LOSS OF SEPARATION WAS OBSERVED BY THIS RPTR. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A BREAKDOWN IN SOP. I WAS WORKING WITH MANY PROBS DURING THE PREFLT PHASE. NEW FO. TKOF ALT REQUIRED, UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH DISPATCH DUE TO NO ACARS. HAD CONGESTED COMMERCIAL RADIO FREQ, LOW VISIBILITY, DEICING, ETC. BOTTOM LINE IS, WE GOT CONSUMED IN THESE MATTERS AND I NEVER INSURED THE VERIFICATION OF THE NEW RTE IN THE FMC BY THE FO.

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.