Reporter turned direct sax prior to receiving clearance to do so.

Attributes
ACN	86482
Time
Date	198805
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v167
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	86482
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We requested direct to the sparta (sax) VOR from the controller shortly after passing the hnk VOR. After a pause, the controller read back 'direct to sax.' I acknowledged, 'cleared direct sparta, thank you!' the first officer turned direct to sax VOR (he was flying). A short time later the controller asked us if we were tracking the arwy. I indicated that we were now proceeding direct to sax VOR, as previously cleared. He then said that we were not yet cleared direct, and to pick up the arwy again. He then issued a clearance to cross 25 NM northwest of sax at 7000' MSL, and cleared direct to sparta out of 13000' MSL. I elected to stay on the route for a while after descending through 13000' MSL, in order to make the restriction. I advised him of this, after he asked if we were now proceeding toward sax VOR. I advised him as soon as frequency traffic would allow. I read back our clearance direct to sax VOR. The controller did not respond that this was incorrect at that time. I suggest that controllers pay a little closer attention to clearance readbacks to prevent this type of confusion from happening again. That's the only way we know whether or not what we thought we heard is what the controller intended!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER TURNED DIRECT SAX PRIOR TO RECEIVING CLRNC TO DO SO.

Narrative: WE REQUESTED DIRECT TO THE SPARTA (SAX) VOR FROM THE CTLR SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE HNK VOR. AFTER A PAUSE, THE CTLR READ BACK 'DIRECT TO SAX.' I ACKNOWLEDGED, 'CLRED DIRECT SPARTA, THANK YOU!' THE F/O TURNED DIRECT TO SAX VOR (HE WAS FLYING). A SHORT TIME LATER THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE TRACKING THE ARWY. I INDICATED THAT WE WERE NOW PROCEEDING DIRECT TO SAX VOR, AS PREVIOUSLY CLRED. HE THEN SAID THAT WE WERE NOT YET CLRED DIRECT, AND TO PICK UP THE ARWY AGAIN. HE THEN ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS 25 NM NW OF SAX AT 7000' MSL, AND CLRED DIRECT TO SPARTA OUT OF 13000' MSL. I ELECTED TO STAY ON THE ROUTE FOR A WHILE AFTER DSNDING THROUGH 13000' MSL, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. I ADVISED HIM OF THIS, AFTER HE ASKED IF WE WERE NOW PROCEEDING TOWARD SAX VOR. I ADVISED HIM AS SOON AS FREQ TFC WOULD ALLOW. I READ BACK OUR CLRNC DIRECT TO SAX VOR. THE CTLR DID NOT RESPOND THAT THIS WAS INCORRECT AT THAT TIME. I SUGGEST THAT CTLRS PAY A LITTLE CLOSER ATTN TO CLRNC READBACKS TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF CONFUSION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE HEARD IS WHAT THE CTLR INTENDED!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.