DC8 flight crew has a track and or heading deviation departing bos.

Attributes
ACN	723560
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : sax.vor
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j77.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50
ASRS Report	723560
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	723562
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance 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
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We had been cleared via J77. As we passed sparta VOR the first officer noted that he didn't think stillwater was the correct next fix. We consulted a chart and determined it to be broadway VOR. I directed a turn in heading mode. At about the same time ZNY called and asked our course we stated we thought it was to stillwater. He gave us a left turn of approximately 15 degrees and then eventually direct pottstown. There was no traffic evident on the TCAS. The chart is very confusing and hard to read in the area of these fixes. In addition; we received a full route reroute from ATC shortly before departure. Commercial chart was of no help in the planning phase. Both crew members had looked at the chart and verified the route prior to departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8 FLT CREW HAS A TRACK AND OR HDG DEV DEPARTING BOS.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN CLRED VIA J77. AS WE PASSED SPARTA VOR THE FO NOTED THAT HE DIDN'T THINK STILLWATER WAS THE CORRECT NEXT FIX. WE CONSULTED A CHART AND DETERMINED IT TO BE BROADWAY VOR. I DIRECTED A TURN IN HDG MODE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME ZNY CALLED AND ASKED OUR COURSE WE STATED WE THOUGHT IT WAS TO STILLWATER. HE GAVE US A L TURN OF APPROX 15 DEGS AND THEN EVENTUALLY DIRECT POTTSTOWN. THERE WAS NO TFC EVIDENT ON THE TCAS. THE CHART IS VERY CONFUSING AND HARD TO READ IN THE AREA OF THESE FIXES. IN ADDITION; WE RECEIVED A FULL RTE REROUTE FROM ATC SHORTLY BEFORE DEP. COMMERCIAL CHART WAS OF NO HELP IN THE PLANNING PHASE. BOTH CREW MEMBERS HAD LOOKED AT THE CHART AND VERIFIED THE RTE PRIOR TO DEP.

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.