A PA28 pilot deviated from his cleared track because of confusion in operating his new GPS.

Attributes
ACN	714263
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : mem.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 29 flight time total : 581 flight time type : 189
ASRS Report	714263
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying the aircraft back to its home base after installation of a new IFR GPS and new radios. I entered my clearance on the ground; but failed to activate the flight plan. The clearance was ZZZ1 ZZZ2 as filed; but I started out towards ZZZ2. ATC pointed out the heading error that I created. Contributing to this error was the novelty of the new GPS and my failure to dial in the VOR into the second radio or use my handheld GPS. The controller's verbiage on our initial call-up was not what I was expecting and I was tired after a long day going to get the aircraft and doing the required test flight for IFR certification. When filing the flight plan; I used the wrong GMT time and had to refile on the ground before departure from W75. Once I activated the flight plan and headed in the right direction); I was given direct and the rest of the flight was uneventful. Using the GPS simulator is a bit different because it is necessary to activate the flight plan to get the simulated aircraft position to update correctly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT DEVIATED FROM HIS CLRED TRACK BECAUSE OF CONFUSION IN OPERATING HIS NEW GPS.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING THE ACFT BACK TO ITS HOME BASE AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW IFR GPS AND NEW RADIOS. I ENTERED MY CLRNC ON THE GND; BUT FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE FLT PLAN. THE CLRNC WAS ZZZ1 ZZZ2 AS FILED; BUT I STARTED OUT TOWARDS ZZZ2. ATC POINTED OUT THE HDG ERROR THAT I CREATED. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ERROR WAS THE NOVELTY OF THE NEW GPS AND MY FAILURE TO DIAL IN THE VOR INTO THE SECOND RADIO OR USE MY HANDHELD GPS. THE CTLR'S VERBIAGE ON OUR INITIAL CALL-UP WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AND I WAS TIRED AFTER A LONG DAY GOING TO GET THE ACFT AND DOING THE REQUIRED TEST FLT FOR IFR CERTIFICATION. WHEN FILING THE FLT PLAN; I USED THE WRONG GMT TIME AND HAD TO REFILE ON THE GND BEFORE DEP FROM W75. ONCE I ACTIVATED THE FLT PLAN AND HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION); I WAS GIVEN DIRECT AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. USING THE GPS SIMULATOR IS A BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY TO ACTIVATE THE FLT PLAN TO GET THE SIMULATED ACFT POS TO UPDATE CORRECTLY.

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.