Narrative:

During climb out on suma 6 departure with myself flying, I initiated a turn at 6 DME to a heading of 070 degrees above a minimum altitude of 4000 ft. I believed at the time of the turn that I was complying with the departure procedure. ATC came on the radio and advised that we had turned to our heading early and that our turn had surprised ATC, but that no harm was done and no other aircraft were involved. Flight continued to be uneventful after making our apologies to departure. I believe paying closer attention to the departure procedure as well as maybe a way to make 5's, 6's, and 8's stand out more would have helped in preventing this error. Both crew members were well rested and alert. Supplemental information from acn 563819: we were climbing out on the summa 6 departure, had just entered IMC and began a turn first officer 070 degrees above 4000 ft (I'm not sure of the DME). About 30 seconds or less later, the departure controller told us we turned early as it was 8 DME and above 4000 ft when we should turn. She told us it was not a big problem this time. I only saw 4000 ft on the SID. I had put in the routing as it appeared on our flight plan. First fix summa, along with the departure runway. If we were cleared the summa 6, wouldn't it make more sense to have the box reflect what we're going to fly automatically? That is, if we always fly the summa 6, it should be the default flight plan. Same in phx with the st johns 2. That would provide moving map guidance immediately.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW MEETS THE ALT RESTR BUT NOT THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST TURN ON THE SUMMA 6 DEP FROM SEATTLE, WA, RWY 34L-R.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT ON SUMA 6 DEP WITH MYSELF FLYING, I INITIATED A TURN AT 6 DME TO A HDG OF 070 DEGS ABOVE A MINIMUM ALT OF 4000 FT. I BELIEVED AT THE TIME OF THE TURN THAT I WAS COMPLYING WITH THE DEP PROC. ATC CAME ON THE RADIO AND ADVISED THAT WE HAD TURNED TO OUR HDG EARLY AND THAT OUR TURN HAD SURPRISED ATC, BUT THAT NO HARM WAS DONE AND NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED. FLT CONTINUED TO BE UNEVENTFUL AFTER MAKING OUR APOLOGIES TO DEP. I BELIEVE PAYING CLOSER ATTN TO THE DEP PROC AS WELL AS MAYBE A WAY TO MAKE 5'S, 6'S, AND 8'S STAND OUT MORE WOULD HAVE HELPED IN PREVENTING THIS ERROR. BOTH CREW MEMBERS WERE WELL RESTED AND ALERT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 563819: WE WERE CLBING OUT ON THE SUMMA 6 DEP, HAD JUST ENTERED IMC AND BEGAN A TURN FO 070 DEGS ABOVE 4000 FT (I'M NOT SURE OF THE DME). ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR LESS LATER, THE DEP CTLR TOLD US WE TURNED EARLY AS IT WAS 8 DME AND ABOVE 4000 FT WHEN WE SHOULD TURN. SHE TOLD US IT WAS NOT A BIG PROB THIS TIME. I ONLY SAW 4000 FT ON THE SID. I HAD PUT IN THE ROUTING AS IT APPEARED ON OUR FLT PLAN. FIRST FIX SUMMA, ALONG WITH THE DEP RWY. IF WE WERE CLRED THE SUMMA 6, WOULDN'T IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO HAVE THE BOX REFLECT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FLY AUTOMATICALLY? THAT IS, IF WE ALWAYS FLY THE SUMMA 6, IT SHOULD BE THE DEFAULT FLT PLAN. SAME IN PHX WITH THE ST JOHNS 2. THAT WOULD PROVIDE MOVING MAP GUIDANCE IMMEDIATELY.

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.