A PA31 pilot fails to activate VOR DME a IAP to teb and track deviation results.

Attributes
ACN	684110
Time
Date	200601
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31P Navajo P
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 26000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	684110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vor other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Cleared for VOR DME a teb after wanes IAF. Reporter mis-programmed garmin 430 GPS. As a result; aircraft departed IAF on 155 degree heading instead of 125 degree course to runway. Because I had raw data backup; I noticed and turned to intercept course using VOR needle. ATC advised me of the off-course error also. Contributing factors: did not activate the approach in the GPS even though it was loaded. Advised airport in sight abeam FAF and cleared visual by ATC. WX not a factor. GPS usage is high workload. Lots of interface with automation. Raw data backup is essential. The potential for distraction in high density terminal areas is very real when using GPS's full capability. This reporter completed simulator training using this particular GPS only 30 days ago -- and still got it wrong.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA31 PLT FAILS TO ACTIVATE VOR DME A IAP TO TEB AND TRACK DEV RESULTS.

Narrative: CLRED FOR VOR DME A TEB AFTER WANES IAF. RPTR MIS-PROGRAMMED GARMIN 430 GPS. AS A RESULT; ACFT DEPARTED IAF ON 155 DEG HDG INSTEAD OF 125 DEG COURSE TO RWY. BECAUSE I HAD RAW DATA BACKUP; I NOTICED AND TURNED TO INTERCEPT COURSE USING VOR NEEDLE. ATC ADVISED ME OF THE OFF-COURSE ERROR ALSO. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: DID NOT ACTIVATE THE APCH IN THE GPS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOADED. ADVISED ARPT IN SIGHT ABEAM FAF AND CLRED VISUAL BY ATC. WX NOT A FACTOR. GPS USAGE IS HIGH WORKLOAD. LOTS OF INTERFACE WITH AUTOMATION. RAW DATA BACKUP IS ESSENTIAL. THE POTENTIAL FOR DISTRACTION IN HIGH DENSITY TERMINAL AREAS IS VERY REAL WHEN USING GPS'S FULL CAPABILITY. THIS RPTR COMPLETED SIMULATOR TRAINING USING THIS PARTICULAR GPS ONLY 30 DAYS AGO -- AND STILL GOT IT WRONG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.