An air carrier aircraft departed atl runway 28L and mistakenly turned to heading 250 when the actual...

Attributes
ACN	841931
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ATL.Airport
State Reference	GA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Widebody Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

During takeoff from atlanta runway 26L tower issued clearance 'clear for takeoff fly heading 295'. Due to bad radio or distraction (honestly I couldn't say at this time) I believed it was heading 250. After departure we headed 250 for few seconds only. Usually tower instructs after takeoff to 'heading xxx and contact departure' this time tower only said 'contact departure'. We were on that heading for only a few seconds. I recognized the mistake and immediately corrected to a heading of 300 degrees. After an uneventful flight and landing. I contacted atl tower and been told that a separation incident had occurred. The separation was down to 2.14 miles and 300 ft. Either a distraction in my part or bad radio transmission where 295 sounded like 25 and I assumed (a big mistake) that it was meant 250. Also all the fast talking radio instructions. Never assume; always verify and believe me I'm the always very strict about verifying radio calls. I would say that the one day that I didn't verify it came to hound me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier aircraft departed ATL Runway 28L and mistakenly turned to heading 250 when the actual cleared heading was 295. ATC issue a heading change due to the loss of separation from a simultaneously departing aircraft.

Narrative: During takeoff from Atlanta Runway 26L Tower issued clearance 'Clear for Takeoff fly heading 295'. Due to bad radio or distraction (honestly I couldn't say at this time) I believed it was heading 250. After departure we headed 250 for few seconds only. Usually Tower instructs after takeoff to 'Heading xxx and Contact Departure' This time tower only said 'Contact Departure'. We were on that heading for only a few seconds. I recognized the mistake and immediately corrected to a heading of 300 degrees. After an uneventful flight and landing. I contacted ATL Tower and been told that a separation incident had occurred. The separation was down to 2.14 miles and 300 FT. Either a distraction in my part or bad radio transmission where 295 sounded like 25 and I assumed (a big mistake) that it was meant 250. Also all the fast talking radio instructions. NEVER ASSUME; always verify and believe me I'm the always very strict about verifying radio calls. I would say that the one day that I didn't verify it came to hound me.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

An air carrier aircraft departed atl runway 28L and mistakenly turned to heading 250 when the actual cleared heading was 295. ATC issue a heading change due to the loss of separation from a simultaneously departing aircraft.