MD88 departure from vps turns in wrong direction during vector.

Attributes
ACN	610719
Time
Date	200403
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vps.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : vps.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 3800
ASRS Report	611334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	611334
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Original clearance was runway heading (120 degrees) maintain 3000 ft. During takeoff roll, tower issued altitude of 2000 ft. After 1000 ft, switched to departure control and began to level off at 2000 ft. Departure control cleared us to 3000 ft. Followed by clearance to climb to 10000 ft. Right turn to 360 degrees. Traffic at '?' position 3500 ft. During confusion of multiple altitude clrncs, the right 240 degree turn was missed resulting in a left turn instead. Departure reissued altitude clearance to 2000 ft after we passed 3000 ft, and to turn right to 360 degrees. At 3500 ft MSL, we stopped climbing in excess of 3000 FPM and began descending to 2000 ft. No RA's occurred on TCASII, however, departure control issued a TA. Recommend that if a turn is issued the long way around, it should be emphasized, and multiple altitude changes in the initial should be eliminated. 4 altitude changes within 2 mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 DEP FROM VPS TURNS IN WRONG DIRECTION DURING VECTOR.

Narrative: ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS RWY HDG (120 DEGS) MAINTAIN 3000 FT. DURING TKOF ROLL, TWR ISSUED ALT OF 2000 FT. AFTER 1000 FT, SWITCHED TO DEP CTL AND BEGAN TO LEVEL OFF AT 2000 FT. DEP CTL CLRED US TO 3000 FT. FOLLOWED BY CLRNC TO CLB TO 10000 FT. R TURN TO 360 DEGS. TFC AT '?' POS 3500 FT. DURING CONFUSION OF MULTIPLE ALT CLRNCS, THE R 240 DEG TURN WAS MISSED RESULTING IN A L TURN INSTEAD. DEP REISSUED ALT CLRNC TO 2000 FT AFTER WE PASSED 3000 FT, AND TO TURN R TO 360 DEGS. AT 3500 FT MSL, WE STOPPED CLBING IN EXCESS OF 3000 FPM AND BEGAN DSNDING TO 2000 FT. NO RA'S OCCURRED ON TCASII, HOWEVER, DEP CTL ISSUED A TA. RECOMMEND THAT IF A TURN IS ISSUED THE LONG WAY AROUND, IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED, AND MULTIPLE ALT CHANGES IN THE INITIAL SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. 4 ALT CHANGES WITHIN 2 MINS.

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.