B737 crew turns to incorrect heading after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	530180
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mco.tracon
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 24500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	530180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight abcd was told by local tower 'cleared for (runway 18) takeoff turn right to xyy degrees.' read back 'xyy degrees and zy' and took off and turned right to xzy degrees. I think that similar sounding call sign was embedded in my memory. No conflicts and no traffic. Controller asked us our heading and turned us back to xyy degrees, no problems I am aware of at this time. Controller stated same to me on radio. Supplemental information from acn 529751: an air carrier B737/east aircraft check onto my frequency after departure runway 18L at mco. I told the aircraft 'radar contact.' within 2 mi of the airport I noticed the aircraft heading track was more westerly then previous aircraft. When I asked the aircraft what heading he was flying, the pilot said 'xzy degrees.' the shift supervisor check the digital voice recorder and reports that the tower issued heading xyy and the pilot read back xyy. I believe the aircraft's call sign contributed to the situation. The call sign was air carrier axzy. No other aircraft were involved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW TURNS TO INCORRECT HEADING AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: FLT ABCD WAS TOLD BY LCL TWR 'CLRED FOR (RWY 18) TKOF TURN RIGHT TO XYY DEGS.' READ BACK 'XYY DEGS AND ZY' AND TOOK OFF AND TURNED RIGHT TO XZY DEGS. I THINK THAT SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN WAS EMBEDDED IN MY MEMORY. NO CONFLICTS AND NO TFC. CTLR ASKED US OUR HEADING AND TURNED US BACK TO XYY DEGS, NO PROBS I AM AWARE OF AT THIS TIME. CTLR STATED SAME TO ME ON RADIO. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 529751: AN ACR B737/E ACFT CHECK ONTO MY FREQ AFTER DEP RWY 18L AT MCO. I TOLD THE ACFT 'RADAR CONTACT.' WITHIN 2 MI OF THE ARPT I NOTICED THE ACFT HEADING TRACK WAS MORE WESTERLY THEN PREVIOUS ACFT. WHEN I ASKED THE ACFT WHAT HEADING HE WAS FLYING, THE PLT SAID 'XZY DEGS.' THE SHIFT SUPVR CHECK THE DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER AND RPTS THAT THE TWR ISSUED HEADING XYY AND THE PLT READ BACK XYY. I BELIEVE THE ACFT'S CALL SIGN CONTRIBUTED TO THE SIT. THE CALL SIGN WAS ACR AXZY. NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED.

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.