A B727-200 crew, descending into ord, turned to their assigned heading prematurely, spawning a query...

Attributes
ACN	540309
Time
Date	200203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bae.vortac
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mke.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 107
ASRS Report	540309
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the first officer on flight from gfk to ord the evening of mar/fri/02, and the PF. We had been given a routing during descent into ord of direct bae VOR, then direct obk VOR, and told to contact milwaukee approach. On initial contact, about 10 NM from bae, milwaukee approach gave us a routing of 180 degrees after bae, descend to 8000 ft MSL. Shortly thereafter, we mistakenly switched both vors to obk and I initiated a turn to 180 degrees about 7 NM from bae. Shortly thereafter, milwaukee approach queried us as to whether we were on a 180 degree heading. We answered yes, and were given a heading of 160 degrees and switched to chicago approach. At this point, we recognized we had turned to 180 degree early, approximately 7 NM from bae.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 CREW, DSNDING INTO ORD, TURNED TO THEIR ASSIGNED HDG PREMATURELY, SPAWNING A QUERY FROM ATC.

Narrative: I WAS THE FO ON FLT FROM GFK TO ORD THE EVENING OF MAR/FRI/02, AND THE PF. WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A ROUTING DURING DSCNT INTO ORD OF DIRECT BAE VOR, THEN DIRECT OBK VOR, AND TOLD TO CONTACT MILWAUKEE APCH. ON INITIAL CONTACT, ABOUT 10 NM FROM BAE, MILWAUKEE APCH GAVE US A ROUTING OF 180 DEGS AFTER BAE, DSND TO 8000 FT MSL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE MISTAKENLY SWITCHED BOTH VORS TO OBK AND I INITIATED A TURN TO 180 DEGS ABOUT 7 NM FROM BAE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MILWAUKEE APCH QUERIED US AS TO WHETHER WE WERE ON A 180 DEG HDG. WE ANSWERED YES, AND WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 160 DEGS AND SWITCHED TO CHICAGO APCH. AT THIS POINT, WE RECOGNIZED WE HAD TURNED TO 180 DEG EARLY, APPROX 7 NM FROM BAE.

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.

A B727-200 crew, descending into ord, turned to their assigned heading prematurely, spawning a query from ATC.