Heading deviation, wrong NAVAID used.

Attributes
ACN	90172
Time
Date	198806
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 8075 flight time type : 1388
ASRS Report	90172
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
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:

On descent for an approach into iah we were given a heading to fly to intercept the 320 degree right of hobby VOR (117.6). Because we were landing at iah instead of hou, we inadvertently tuned in humble VOR (116.6), associated with iah. The humble VOR was notamed off the air at the time, which also was noted on the ATIS for iah. After intercepting the wrong radial, we were discussing the possibility of being in error when approach control told us that we had intercepted the wrong radial and were in fact several mi east of the desired radial. Familiarity with the radio frequencys and their association with the 2 different airports led us to automatically select the frequency associated with our airport of intended landing. The copilot was flying at the time and apparently did not catch the error as I read back the clearance and dialed in the wrong radio station. I think the similar sounding names for the radio stations, humble vs hobby, and also their similar frequencys, 116.6 vs 117.6, have a built in potential for errors of this type in approachs within the houston area. Even though the humble facility was notamed, it was transmitting both azimuth and DME, albeit with test for an identify. When this is the case, possibly an additional comment by the ATC about not using the wrong facility might be appropriate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG DEVIATION, WRONG NAVAID USED.

Narrative: ON DSCNT FOR AN APCH INTO IAH WE WERE GIVEN A HDG TO FLY TO INTERCEPT THE 320 DEG R OF HOBBY VOR (117.6). BECAUSE WE WERE LNDG AT IAH INSTEAD OF HOU, WE INADVERTENTLY TUNED IN HUMBLE VOR (116.6), ASSOCIATED WITH IAH. THE HUMBLE VOR WAS NOTAMED OFF THE AIR AT THE TIME, WHICH ALSO WAS NOTED ON THE ATIS FOR IAH. AFTER INTERCEPTING THE WRONG RADIAL, WE WERE DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING IN ERROR WHEN APCH CTL TOLD US THAT WE HAD INTERCEPTED THE WRONG RADIAL AND WERE IN FACT SEVERAL MI E OF THE DESIRED RADIAL. FAMILIARITY WITH THE RADIO FREQS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THE 2 DIFFERENT ARPTS LED US TO AUTOMATICALLY SELECT THE FREQ ASSOCIATED WITH OUR ARPT OF INTENDED LNDG. THE COPLT WAS FLYING AT THE TIME AND APPARENTLY DID NOT CATCH THE ERROR AS I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND DIALED IN THE WRONG RADIO STATION. I THINK THE SIMILAR SOUNDING NAMES FOR THE RADIO STATIONS, HUMBLE VS HOBBY, AND ALSO THEIR SIMILAR FREQS, 116.6 VS 117.6, HAVE A BUILT IN POTENTIAL FOR ERRORS OF THIS TYPE IN APCHS WITHIN THE HOUSTON AREA. EVEN THOUGH THE HUMBLE FAC WAS NOTAMED, IT WAS XMITTING BOTH AZIMUTH AND DME, ALBEIT WITH TEST FOR AN IDENT. WHEN THIS IS THE CASE, POSSIBLY AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT BY THE ATC ABOUT NOT USING THE WRONG FAC MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.

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.