An SF340 flight crew flies the wrong radial during a heading track deviation 15 mi south of mbs, mi.

Attributes
ACN	505150
Time
Date	200103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mbs.vor
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc tower : oma.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	505150
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	504797
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in cruise flight, inbound to dtw over the mbs VOR, the incorrect outbound radial was selected. After a few mins of tracking the incorrect radial, ATC asked what we were navigating to. At that time we realized the incorrect radial and ATC assigned a vector to intercept the arrival. We turned to that heading and were established within 1-2 mins. At the time of the event, there was no TCASII advisory, no conflicts, and stayed inside controled airspace. The contributing factor was the crew's inability to select the correct radial. Supplemental information from acn 504797: the primary reason for this deviation is that we were involved in a conversation. We were not paying attention to where the airplane was headed. We had a very early report time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SF340 FLC FLIES THE WRONG RADIAL DURING A HDG TRACK DEV 15 MI S OF MBS, MI.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, INBOUND TO DTW OVER THE MBS VOR, THE INCORRECT OUTBOUND RADIAL WAS SELECTED. AFTER A FEW MINS OF TRACKING THE INCORRECT RADIAL, ATC ASKED WHAT WE WERE NAVING TO. AT THAT TIME WE REALIZED THE INCORRECT RADIAL AND ATC ASSIGNED A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE ARR. WE TURNED TO THAT HDG AND WERE ESTABLISHED WITHIN 1-2 MINS. AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT, THERE WAS NO TCASII ADVISORY, NO CONFLICTS, AND STAYED INSIDE CTLED AIRSPACE. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE CREW'S INABILITY TO SELECT THE CORRECT RADIAL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 504797: THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THIS DEV IS THAT WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CONVERSATION. WE WERE NOT PAYING ATTN TO WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADED. WE HAD A VERY EARLY RPT TIME.

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.