Narrative:

I was the PF from boi-atl. In cruise at FL340 approximately 60 mi northwest of the rmg VOR proceeding direct to rmg; I received a vector from ZTL to turn right 20 degrees. My first officer read back the clearance and we complied. A few mins later; ZTL said something that I didn't catch (I thought possibly the controller said we should have gone left) followed by a vector to 090 degrees (approximately 70 degrees left). While in the turn (approximately 120 degree heading) we observed an airplane co-altitude and slightly right of the nose. As we continued the turn we received a TA and RA (climb) from the TCAS. As I was complying; the conflict was resolved and deviation from altitude was less than 80 ft. Approximately 2 mins later; ATC advised us to call ZTL when we arrived in atlanta. I was informed that we had been issued a 20 degree left vector and had deviated. While I specifically remember verbalizing 20 degrees right; I cannot remember the first officer's readback. There appeared to be no confusion with the initial vector. At the time of the initial vector; neither of us were involved with other activities and I don't recall any radio difficulties. At this time; I do not have results of ATC investigation. Supplemental information from acn 699613: flight was at FL340. ZTL gave us a vector of 20 degrees to the right. The PNF read back 20 degrees right. The PF turned the aircraft 20 degrees right. A few mins later; the controller gave us a heading of 20 degrees left; then a turn to 090 degrees (from a heading of approximately 130 degrees). In the turn we received a TA and were able to pick up the traffic visually; then an RA occurred. No evasive action was necessary. The captain called ATC (ZTL) once we got on the ground. They said they gave us a 20 degree turn to the 'left' and we read back '20 degrees to the left.' contributing factors: 1) aircraft was at FL340 heading in an easterly direction. 2) incident happened near one of the busiest airports in the world.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 IN CRUISE TURNED THE WRONG WAY WHEN VECTORED. ATC TURNED THEM BACK; AND IN THE TURN THEY GOT A TCAS RA. THEY CLBED TO AVOID THE CONFLICT.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF FROM BOI-ATL. IN CRUISE AT FL340 APPROX 60 MI NW OF THE RMG VOR PROCEEDING DIRECT TO RMG; I RECEIVED A VECTOR FROM ZTL TO TURN R 20 DEGS. MY FO READ BACK THE CLRNC AND WE COMPLIED. A FEW MINS LATER; ZTL SAID SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T CATCH (I THOUGHT POSSIBLY THE CTLR SAID WE SHOULD HAVE GONE L) FOLLOWED BY A VECTOR TO 090 DEGS (APPROX 70 DEGS L). WHILE IN THE TURN (APPROX 120 DEG HDG) WE OBSERVED AN AIRPLANE CO-ALT AND SLIGHTLY R OF THE NOSE. AS WE CONTINUED THE TURN WE RECEIVED A TA AND RA (CLB) FROM THE TCAS. AS I WAS COMPLYING; THE CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED AND DEV FROM ALT WAS LESS THAN 80 FT. APPROX 2 MINS LATER; ATC ADVISED US TO CALL ZTL WHEN WE ARRIVED IN ATLANTA. I WAS INFORMED THAT WE HAD BEEN ISSUED A 20 DEG L VECTOR AND HAD DEVIATED. WHILE I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER VERBALIZING 20 DEGS R; I CANNOT REMEMBER THE FO'S READBACK. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO CONFUSION WITH THE INITIAL VECTOR. AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL VECTOR; NEITHER OF US WERE INVOLVED WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES AND I DON'T RECALL ANY RADIO DIFFICULTIES. AT THIS TIME; I DO NOT HAVE RESULTS OF ATC INVESTIGATION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 699613: FLT WAS AT FL340. ZTL GAVE US A VECTOR OF 20 DEGS TO THE R. THE PNF READ BACK 20 DEGS R. THE PF TURNED THE ACFT 20 DEGS R. A FEW MINS LATER; THE CTLR GAVE US A HDG OF 20 DEGS L; THEN A TURN TO 090 DEGS (FROM A HDG OF APPROX 130 DEGS). IN THE TURN WE RECEIVED A TA AND WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE TFC VISUALLY; THEN AN RA OCCURRED. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY. THE CAPT CALLED ATC (ZTL) ONCE WE GOT ON THE GND. THEY SAID THEY GAVE US A 20 DEG TURN TO THE 'L' AND WE READ BACK '20 DEGS TO THE L.' CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) ACFT WAS AT FL340 HDG IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. 2) INCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR ONE OF THE BUSIEST ARPTS IN THE WORLD.

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.