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MD80 flight crew experiences track error when mistakenly entering KA27Q versus KA27O in FMS. Similar appearance of fix names contributed to error.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 711360 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200609 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : ka27q |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Altitude | msl single value : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zab.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 711360 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Abq called and asked if we were going direct to KA27O. Abq showed us slightly south and abeam of the intersection. We were showing 85 miles west of the intersection. It's then we realized we were going direct to KA27Q. Now looking at this screen do you see how close these two points look alike? Just imagine the clearance being printed out on a bad printer with low ink. The first officer put the route in the box and we both checked it for verification. I thought for sure it was a 'Q'. This is not the first time an 'O' and a 'Q' have been misread. Maybe it's not a good idea to use 'Q' in navigation. It's a set up for error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES TRACK ERROR WHEN MISTAKENLY ENTERING KA27Q VERSUS KA27O IN FMS. SIMILAR APPEARANCE OF FIX NAMES CONTRIBUTED TO ERROR.
Narrative: ABQ CALLED AND ASKED IF WE WERE GOING DIRECT TO KA27O. ABQ SHOWED US SLIGHTLY S AND ABEAM OF THE INTXN. WE WERE SHOWING 85 MILES W OF THE INTXN. IT'S THEN WE REALIZED WE WERE GOING DIRECT TO KA27Q. NOW LOOKING AT THIS SCREEN DO YOU SEE HOW CLOSE THESE TWO POINTS LOOK ALIKE? JUST IMAGINE THE CLRNC BEING PRINTED OUT ON A BAD PRINTER WITH LOW INK. THE FO PUT THE RTE IN THE BOX AND WE BOTH CHKED IT FOR VERIFICATION. I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT WAS A 'Q'. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME AN 'O' AND A 'Q' HAVE BEEN MISREAD. MAYBE IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO USE 'Q' IN NAVIGATION. IT'S A SET UP FOR ERROR.
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.