An S80 flight crew uses the heading given for another flight during their departure procedure from d...

Attributes
ACN	503190
Time
Date	200003
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : noise abatement departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	503190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	503191
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After taking off from runway 1 at dca, we contacted departure control and were told to follow the river. Shortly after this (about 1 min) we heard departure control clear us to turn left to a heading of 320 degrees. We acknowledged the call and turned to the heading. After another min, passing about 4000 ft, departure control asked us what we were doing on that heading. We replied that we were following the instructions he gave us. He replied that the turn was for another aircraft and then he proceeded to give us vectors for the departure. Both the first officer and myself heard the radio call for us to turn to the 320 degree heading, and the first officer acknowledged the call to departure control with no further response from departure control. I asked the controller about this, and he said that the turn was for another aircraft who acknowledged the call -- apparently, simultaneously with our acknowledgement. The controller also stated that our turn did not cause him any problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN S80 FLC USES THE HDG GIVEN FOR ANOTHER FLT DURING THEIR DEP PROC FROM DCA, DC.

Narrative: AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 1 AT DCA, WE CONTACTED DEP CTL AND WERE TOLD TO FOLLOW THE RIVER. SHORTLY AFTER THIS (ABOUT 1 MIN) WE HEARD DEP CTL CLR US TO TURN L TO A HDG OF 320 DEGS. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL AND TURNED TO THE HDG. AFTER ANOTHER MIN, PASSING ABOUT 4000 FT, DEP CTL ASKED US WHAT WE WERE DOING ON THAT HDG. WE REPLIED THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS HE GAVE US. HE REPLIED THAT THE TURN WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND THEN HE PROCEEDED TO GIVE US VECTORS FOR THE DEP. BOTH THE FO AND MYSELF HEARD THE RADIO CALL FOR US TO TURN TO THE 320 DEG HDG, AND THE FO ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL TO DEP CTL WITH NO FURTHER RESPONSE FROM DEP CTL. I ASKED THE CTLR ABOUT THIS, AND HE SAID THAT THE TURN WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL -- APPARENTLY, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THE CTLR ALSO STATED THAT OUR TURN DID NOT CAUSE HIM ANY PROBS.

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.

An S80 flight crew uses the heading given for another flight during their departure procedure from dca, dc.