A B727 flight crew misunderstands center controller instructions while deviating for WX.

Attributes
ACN	521190
Time
Date	200108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bff.vortac
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	521190
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying. We were level at FL290. We believed we had approval to deviate as necessary and should advise when able 055 degree heading. Center told us that we were supposed to maintain 030 degree heading and that because we had not done so, he climbed an aircraft through our altitude 5 mi east of us. We had deviated to about 50 degrees approximately 5 mi prior to center calling us. We had just turned back to our 30 degree heading when center called us. This was a misunderstanding. It was probably (while not actually caused by) made possible in part because I was tired. It was the last leg of a fairly long day with many problems. The captain was giving a PA. Maybe we should not give PA's when busy deviating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 FLT CREW MISUNDERSTANDS CTR CTLR INSTRUCTIONS WHILE DEVIATING FOR WX.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING. WE WERE LEVEL AT FL290. WE BELIEVED WE HAD APPROVAL TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY AND SHOULD ADVISE WHEN ABLE 055 DEG HDG. CTR TOLD US THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN 030 DEG HDG AND THAT BECAUSE WE HAD NOT DONE SO, HE CLBED AN ACFT THROUGH OUR ALT 5 MI E OF US. WE HAD DEVIATED TO ABOUT 50 DEGS APPROX 5 MI PRIOR TO CTR CALLING US. WE HAD JUST TURNED BACK TO OUR 30 DEG HDG WHEN CTR CALLED US. THIS WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING. IT WAS PROBABLY (WHILE NOT ACTUALLY CAUSED BY) MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BECAUSE I WAS TIRED. IT WAS THE LAST LEG OF A FAIRLY LONG DAY WITH MANY PROBS. THE CAPT WAS GIVING A PA. MAYBE WE SHOULD NOT GIVE PA'S WHEN BUSY DEVIATING.

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.