M-20P pilot had a track deviation when he turned after being cleared to fly runway heading.

Attributes
ACN	513570
Time
Date	200106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ikv.airport
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 K (231)
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	controller radar : 1 flight time last 90 days : 350 flight time total : 1015 flight time type : 980
ASRS Report	513570
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I obtained an IFR clearance on the ground at ikv (an uncontrolled airport). My departure instructions were to fly runway heading, climb to 4000 ft, contact approach when airborne. Conditions were VFR at ikv with visibility of 10 mi and approximately 3000 ft overcast. I departed on runway 4, climbed to 1600 ft MSL, and turned on course heading of 330 degrees. I contacted approach during the turn, received radar identify and a heading turn to 220 degrees. The vector was for clearance around towers near my area, which are 2996 ft MSL. I had the towers in sight at the time of the vector. I was approximately 3-4 mi away and at 3000 ft MSL. Shortly, I was cleared on course. The controller later asked me if I was familiar with the towers. I responded that I was. He explained that is the reason for flying heading of 040 degrees up to 4000 ft. My turn on course was an error made while in VFR conditions. Factors I now consider were setting my on-course heading and GPS/HSI up on the ground, and not setting runway heading. I was also distraction by VFR traffic in the pattern at the time of departure which I turned for to maintain separation. Instead of turning back to 040 degrees, I turned on course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M-20P PLT HAD A TRACK DEV WHEN HE TURNED AFTER BEING CLRED TO FLY RWY HDG.

Narrative: I OBTAINED AN IFR CLRNC ON THE GND AT IKV (AN UNCTLED ARPT). MY DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO FLY RWY HDG, CLB TO 4000 FT, CONTACT APCH WHEN AIRBORNE. CONDITIONS WERE VFR AT IKV WITH VISIBILITY OF 10 MI AND APPROX 3000 FT OVCST. I DEPARTED ON RWY 4, CLBED TO 1600 FT MSL, AND TURNED ON COURSE HDG OF 330 DEGS. I CONTACTED APCH DURING THE TURN, RECEIVED RADAR IDENT AND A HDG TURN TO 220 DEGS. THE VECTOR WAS FOR CLRNC AROUND TWRS NEAR MY AREA, WHICH ARE 2996 FT MSL. I HAD THE TWRS IN SIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE VECTOR. I WAS APPROX 3-4 MI AWAY AND AT 3000 FT MSL. SHORTLY, I WAS CLRED ON COURSE. THE CTLR LATER ASKED ME IF I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE TWRS. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS. HE EXPLAINED THAT IS THE REASON FOR FLYING HDG OF 040 DEGS UP TO 4000 FT. MY TURN ON COURSE WAS AN ERROR MADE WHILE IN VFR CONDITIONS. FACTORS I NOW CONSIDER WERE SETTING MY ON-COURSE HDG AND GPS/HSI UP ON THE GND, AND NOT SETTING RWY HDG. I WAS ALSO DISTR BY VFR TFC IN THE PATTERN AT THE TIME OF DEP WHICH I TURNED FOR TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION. INSTEAD OF TURNING BACK TO 040 DEGS, I TURNED ON COURSE.

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.