Narrative:

I work for an air carrier as a captain on B757 and B767 aircraft; and I also own a C172. This occurred while flying my C172 for pleasure. Due to WX at ZZZ being 200-300 ft overcast and 1-2 mi visibility; elected to file an IFR to depart. WX was better to the east and this was basically a local IFR condition. Got my IFR clearance while on the ground at ZZZ. It was different from what I filed; but I had the charts for the SID. After departing and working approach was clear direct ZZZ1. Tuned my frequency selector and centered the obs. 170-180 degrees centered my needle. Started to turn to 170 degree heading. Approach control asked what heading I was flying. A dead giveaway that something wasn't right. Approach instructed me to turn back to a 90 degree heading. When questioned by ATC if I was heading to ZZZ1; I replied I must have the wrong frequency dialed in. It was at this time I selected the audio for the navigation and did not get an identify. About 2 mins later; the ZZZ1 identify came over the speaker; the obs did a full scale deflection and a direct heading was about a 95 degree heading. I then contacted approach that it appeared my problem was not receiving a good signal when cleared direct ZZZ1. Causes: I am used to a 2 pilot cockpit when in IFR. Also; the boeings have full FMC; GPS; IRS and all the databases. When a direct route is selected it just pops up. Not having all this gee whiz equipment; just selecting the frequency and ctring the obs did not guarantee me a direct route. Should have idented the NAVAID before turning. Also; the controller may not have been aware of the 'old' style navigation equipment this aircraft has. We might have been a tad too far from ZZZ1 at a too low altitude to get a good signal when initially cleared. We must use caution when flying new generation and old generation aircraft and remember basic procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PILOT NOTES MAKING A NAV ERROR WHEN FLYING A C172 AND APPLYING ADVANCED NAV SYSTEM PROCEDURES TO A BASIC NAV SYSTEM WITHOUT FMS FUNCTIONS.

Narrative: I WORK FOR AN ACR AS A CAPT ON B757 AND B767 ACFT; AND I ALSO OWN A C172. THIS OCCURRED WHILE FLYING MY C172 FOR PLEASURE. DUE TO WX AT ZZZ BEING 200-300 FT OVCST AND 1-2 MI VISIBILITY; ELECTED TO FILE AN IFR TO DEPART. WX WAS BETTER TO THE E AND THIS WAS BASICALLY A LCL IFR CONDITION. GOT MY IFR CLRNC WHILE ON THE GND AT ZZZ. IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I FILED; BUT I HAD THE CHARTS FOR THE SID. AFTER DEPARTING AND WORKING APCH WAS CLR DIRECT ZZZ1. TUNED MY FREQ SELECTOR AND CTRED THE OBS. 170-180 DEGS CTRED MY NEEDLE. STARTED TO TURN TO 170 DEG HDG. APCH CTL ASKED WHAT HDG I WAS FLYING. A DEAD GIVEAWAY THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. APCH INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN BACK TO A 90 DEG HDG. WHEN QUESTIONED BY ATC IF I WAS HDG TO ZZZ1; I REPLIED I MUST HAVE THE WRONG FREQ DIALED IN. IT WAS AT THIS TIME I SELECTED THE AUDIO FOR THE NAV AND DID NOT GET AN IDENT. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER; THE ZZZ1 IDENT CAME OVER THE SPEAKER; THE OBS DID A FULL SCALE DEFLECTION AND A DIRECT HDG WAS ABOUT A 95 DEG HDG. I THEN CONTACTED APCH THAT IT APPEARED MY PROB WAS NOT RECEIVING A GOOD SIGNAL WHEN CLRED DIRECT ZZZ1. CAUSES: I AM USED TO A 2 PLT COCKPIT WHEN IN IFR. ALSO; THE BOEINGS HAVE FULL FMC; GPS; IRS AND ALL THE DATABASES. WHEN A DIRECT RTE IS SELECTED IT JUST POPS UP. NOT HAVING ALL THIS GEE WHIZ EQUIP; JUST SELECTING THE FREQ AND CTRING THE OBS DID NOT GUARANTEE ME A DIRECT RTE. SHOULD HAVE IDENTED THE NAVAID BEFORE TURNING. ALSO; THE CTLR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE 'OLD' STYLE NAV EQUIP THIS ACFT HAS. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A TAD TOO FAR FROM ZZZ1 AT A TOO LOW ALT TO GET A GOOD SIGNAL WHEN INITIALLY CLRED. WE MUST USE CAUTION WHEN FLYING NEW GENERATION AND OLD GENERATION ACFT AND REMEMBER BASIC PROCS.

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.