BE1900 crew was given a heading by the controller he did not intend to give in A90 class B.

Attributes
ACN	532468
Time
Date	200112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 1320
ASRS Report	532468
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were inbound to boston on gardner 2 arrival, about 15 mi from bos, when we first were given a vector of 090 degrees. Mins later, we were given 210 degrees. Although we thought it odd, I read back the 210 degree heading and the PF turned. Approximately 3 mins later, the controller came back irritated asking us if we were on a 120 degree heading. We turned to the 120 degree heading and explained we were given 210 degrees. Although he was irritated, he later came back and said it may have been his fault and that 'no harm done.' looking back, it would seem obvious to someone that the 210 degrees should have been questioned when it was given to us. But when bos is metering, it is not uncommon to get huge delaying vectors accompanied by speed restrs. We had already been given the speed restrs. Just 2 days prior to this event, we were given vectors, that in essence s-turned us during the arrival to create more space. But, this having happened, we must not just read back at times, but get further verification on odd headings in a busy en route environment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE1900 CREW WAS GIVEN A HEADING BY THE CTLR HE DID NOT INTEND TO GIVE IN A90 CLASS B.

Narrative: WE WERE INBOUND TO BOSTON ON GARDNER 2 ARR, ABOUT 15 MI FROM BOS, WHEN WE FIRST WERE GIVEN A VECTOR OF 090 DEGS. MINS LATER, WE WERE GIVEN 210 DEGS. ALTHOUGH WE THOUGHT IT ODD, I READ BACK THE 210 DEG HDG AND THE PF TURNED. APPROX 3 MINS LATER, THE CTLR CAME BACK IRRITATED ASKING US IF WE WERE ON A 120 DEG HDG. WE TURNED TO THE 120 DEG HDG AND EXPLAINED WE WERE GIVEN 210 DEGS. ALTHOUGH HE WAS IRRITATED, HE LATER CAME BACK AND SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS FAULT AND THAT 'NO HARM DONE.' LOOKING BACK, IT WOULD SEEM OBVIOUS TO SOMEONE THAT THE 210 DEGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED WHEN IT WAS GIVEN TO US. BUT WHEN BOS IS METERING, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO GET HUGE DELAYING VECTORS ACCOMPANIED BY SPD RESTRS. WE HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN THE SPD RESTRS. JUST 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS, THAT IN ESSENCE S-TURNED US DURING THE ARR TO CREATE MORE SPACE. BUT, THIS HAVING HAPPENED, WE MUST NOT JUST READ BACK AT TIMES, BUT GET FURTHER VERIFICATION ON ODD HEADINGS IN A BUSY ENRTE ENVIRONMENT.

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.