Narrative:

We were departing on an IFR flight to destin (dts). Our flight plan was cleared as filed (pie hevvn direct dts); depart runway 35R; fly runway heading and climb and maintain 1600 ft; expect 10000 ft in 10 mins; and contact tampa departure on 125.3; transponder code XXXX. After cleared for takeoff by the tower; we were handed off to departure. We reported climbing through 700 ft for 1600 ft. Departure stated radar contact and instructed us to turn left to 80 degrees and climb and maintain 4000 ft. The inflection in his voice gave a pause as to sound as if we were to turn left to a heading of 080 degrees. My wife was reading back on the radio; repeated the instructions exactly as we both heard them; but we were unable to receive immediate reply or confirmation due to heavy traffic on the radio. While puzzled; I complied as exactly as possible with a climbing left turn. After passing through the actual assigned heading; the controller came back and asked what was I doing; did I not hear his direction to 'fly heading 280 degrees?' my wife; also a pilot; and I concurred together and she stated back to him clearly that; 'sir; I heard you to state 'left turn to 80' and we complied.' we were then given directions to come around in a tight turn back to the heading 280 degrees and to proceed. We complied immediately and followed all instructions. In conclusion; I believe this misunderstanding would not have happened if the controller had used standard controller phraseology 'turn left heading 280 degrees;' instead of 'turn left 280' which could also be interpreted as 'turn left to 80 (eight zero).'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C210 PLT EXPERIENCES A HDG DEV ON DEP FROM PIE.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING ON AN IFR FLT TO DESTIN (DTS). OUR FLT PLAN WAS CLRED AS FILED (PIE HEVVN DIRECT DTS); DEPART RWY 35R; FLY RWY HDG AND CLB AND MAINTAIN 1600 FT; EXPECT 10000 FT IN 10 MINS; AND CONTACT TAMPA DEP ON 125.3; XPONDER CODE XXXX. AFTER CLRED FOR TKOF BY THE TWR; WE WERE HANDED OFF TO DEP. WE RPTED CLBING THROUGH 700 FT FOR 1600 FT. DEP STATED RADAR CONTACT AND INSTRUCTED US TO TURN L TO 80 DEGS AND CLB AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT. THE INFLECTION IN HIS VOICE GAVE A PAUSE AS TO SOUND AS IF WE WERE TO TURN L TO A HDG OF 080 DEGS. MY WIFE WAS READING BACK ON THE RADIO; REPEATED THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY AS WE BOTH HEARD THEM; BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO RECEIVE IMMEDIATE REPLY OR CONFIRMATION DUE TO HVY TFC ON THE RADIO. WHILE PUZZLED; I COMPLIED AS EXACTLY AS POSSIBLE WITH A CLBING L TURN. AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE ACTUAL ASSIGNED HDG; THE CTLR CAME BACK AND ASKED WHAT WAS I DOING; DID I NOT HEAR HIS DIRECTION TO 'FLY HDG 280 DEGS?' MY WIFE; ALSO A PLT; AND I CONCURRED TOGETHER AND SHE STATED BACK TO HIM CLRLY THAT; 'SIR; I HEARD YOU TO STATE 'L TURN TO 80' AND WE COMPLIED.' WE WERE THEN GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO COME AROUND IN A TIGHT TURN BACK TO THE HDG 280 DEGS AND TO PROCEED. WE COMPLIED IMMEDIATELY AND FOLLOWED ALL INSTRUCTIONS. IN CONCLUSION; I BELIEVE THIS MISUNDERSTANDING WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CTLR HAD USED STANDARD CTLR PHRASEOLOGY 'TURN L HDG 280 DEGS;' INSTEAD OF 'TURN L 280' WHICH COULD ALSO BE INTERPED AS 'TURN LEFT TO 80 (EIGHT ZERO).'

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.