A CRJ200 flew an incorrect heading after takeoff at roa because of clearance confusion.

Attributes
ACN	716092
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : roa.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : roa.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	716092
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	716435
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Clearance given prior to taxi as turn heading 335 degrees. Read back by first officer as 335. 335 set on heading bug. Departed runway 24. Started turn to 335 degrees. Noticed proximity to mountains but were well clear. Tower asked heading. Said we were supposed to be on 235 degree heading and contact departure. Departure confirmed 235 degree heading. Cleared us on course. Although mountains became a factor and I felt at the time of the turn that it did not seem right; at no time did we come close to the mountain and we did not get any GPWS warnings. I should have noticed the general direction of the headings at first. But; it may be better that all clrncs out of roa be a published departure procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ200 FLEW AN INCORRECT HDG AFTER TKOF AT ROA BECAUSE OF CLRNC CONFUSION.

Narrative: CLRNC GIVEN PRIOR TO TAXI AS TURN HDG 335 DEGS. READ BACK BY FO AS 335. 335 SET ON HDG BUG. DEPARTED RWY 24. STARTED TURN TO 335 DEGS. NOTICED PROX TO MOUNTAINS BUT WERE WELL CLR. TWR ASKED HDG. SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON 235 DEG HDG AND CONTACT DEP. DEP CONFIRMED 235 DEG HDG. CLRED US ON COURSE. ALTHOUGH MOUNTAINS BECAME A FACTOR AND I FELT AT THE TIME OF THE TURN THAT IT DID NOT SEEM RIGHT; AT NO TIME DID WE COME CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAIN AND WE DID NOT GET ANY GPWS WARNINGS. I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE HDGS AT FIRST. BUT; IT MAY BE BETTER THAT ALL CLRNCS OUT OF ROA BE A PUBLISHED DEP PROC.

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.