DC10 flight crew, while deviating for WX, turns in wrong direction from clearance issued.

Attributes
ACN	522640
Time
Date	200108
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vrb.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 10
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	522640
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

The PNF (first officer) asked the controller permission to deviate 10 degrees right for WX. At first the controller said 'standby,' then he passed a message we (the entire crew) didn't understand and the first officer asked for a repeat. We all understood, when done with deviations proceed direct to virginia key (vkz).' later another controller chastised us for having deviated right instead of left 'as previously instructed.' I did not hear an instruction to deviate. Our readback was not questioned. Communication between aircraft and ATC broke down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 FLT CREW, WHILE DEVIATING FOR WX, TURNS IN WRONG DIRECTION FROM CLRNC ISSUED.

Narrative: THE PNF (FO) ASKED THE CTLR PERMISSION TO DEVIATE 10 DEGS R FOR WX. AT FIRST THE CTLR SAID 'STANDBY,' THEN HE PASSED A MESSAGE WE (THE ENTIRE CREW) DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND THE FO ASKED FOR A REPEAT. WE ALL UNDERSTOOD, WHEN DONE WITH DEVS PROCEED DIRECT TO VIRGINIA KEY (VKZ).' LATER ANOTHER CTLR CHASTISED US FOR HAVING DEVIATED R INSTEAD OF L 'AS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED.' I DID NOT HEAR AN INSTRUCTION TO DEVIATE. OUR READBACK WAS NOT QUESTIONED. COM BTWN ACFT AND ATC BROKE DOWN.

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.