Narrative:

While flying the lzard 1 arrival into tampa int'l (fl), I was discussing the type of approach we would use for runway 36R. When finished, I realized we were close to the airport and asked my first officer what DME we needed to turn off the arrival. He said 21 DME. We both looked at the DME and it read 15 DME. Realizing our mistake, I turned towards heading 180 degrees. At the same time ATC asked us if we were on the lzard 1 arrival. My first officer replied yes. ATC replied we should have turned to 180 degrees at 21 DME, and instructed us to fly heading 220 degrees, around the west of the airport. We landed runway 36 with no further occurrence. The airport was not busy at the time, thankfully. Discussing the type of approach further from the airport, paying closer attention to situational awareness and the arrival instructions, to make sure this does not happen again, will be a priority. I have also highlighted tumpy intersection (21 DME) and the note to depart on heading 180 degrees on the STAR to make sure I double brief with my first officer when we must turn off the arrival. I also will make sure that close to the airport we are more vigilant to our position.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE1900 CAPT ADMITTED IMPROPER PLANNING OF THE BRIEFING CAUSED HIM TO TURN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON THE LZARD 1 INTO TAP.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING THE LZARD 1 ARR INTO TAMPA INT'L (FL), I WAS DISCUSSING THE TYPE OF APCH WE WOULD USE FOR RWY 36R. WHEN FINISHED, I REALIZED WE WERE CLOSE TO THE ARPT AND ASKED MY FO WHAT DME WE NEEDED TO TURN OFF THE ARR. HE SAID 21 DME. WE BOTH LOOKED AT THE DME AND IT READ 15 DME. REALIZING OUR MISTAKE, I TURNED TOWARDS HDG 180 DEGS. AT THE SAME TIME ATC ASKED US IF WE WERE ON THE LZARD 1 ARR. MY FO REPLIED YES. ATC REPLIED WE SHOULD HAVE TURNED TO 180 DEGS AT 21 DME, AND INSTRUCTED US TO FLY HDG 220 DEGS, AROUND THE W OF THE ARPT. WE LANDED RWY 36 WITH NO FURTHER OCCURRENCE. THE ARPT WAS NOT BUSY AT THE TIME, THANKFULLY. DISCUSSING THE TYPE OF APCH FURTHER FROM THE ARPT, PAYING CLOSER ATTN TO SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND THE ARR INSTRUCTIONS, TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WILL BE A PRIORITY. I HAVE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED TUMPY INTXN (21 DME) AND THE NOTE TO DEPART ON HDG 180 DEGS ON THE STAR TO MAKE SURE I DOUBLE BRIEF WITH MY FO WHEN WE MUST TURN OFF THE ARR. I ALSO WILL MAKE SURE THAT CLOSE TO THE ARPT WE ARE MORE VIGILANT TO OUR POSITION.

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.