Vector heading deviated while sightseeing over the grand canyon.

Attributes
ACN	90797
Time
Date	198807
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	90797
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in cruise flight at FL310 over the grand canyon on a very clear day, we decided to give the passenger a good view. The aircraft was turned left approximately 30-35 degrees for about 30 seconds and then banked back toward course to the right with a slight overshoot of our assigned heading of 050 degrees. As we started correcting back to left after the right turn, the controller asked our heading. We had re-established ourselves on a 055 degree heading as dove creek VOR was starting to come alive. The reply to the controller was 055 degrees. He said your assigned was 050 degrees for dove creek. We answered 'roger' and nothing more was said by the controller or us. We corrected left to 050 degrees to make him happy and proceeded to dove creek. As it turned out, our 055 degree heading was better for dove creek. We should have asked for the turns in retrospect and will do so in the future. This controller didn't like our turns, obviously. I do not believe there were any other aircraft in the area however, from conversations with ATC. No conflict occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VECTOR HEADING DEVIATED WHILE SIGHTSEEING OVER THE GRAND CANYON.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT FL310 OVER THE GRAND CANYON ON A VERY CLEAR DAY, WE DECIDED TO GIVE THE PAX A GOOD VIEW. THE ACFT WAS TURNED LEFT APPROX 30-35 DEGS FOR ABOUT 30 SECS AND THEN BANKED BACK TOWARD COURSE TO THE RIGHT WITH A SLIGHT OVERSHOOT OF OUR ASSIGNED HDG OF 050 DEGS. AS WE STARTED CORRECTING BACK TO LEFT AFTER THE RIGHT TURN, THE CTLR ASKED OUR HDG. WE HAD RE-ESTABLISHED OURSELVES ON A 055 DEG HDG AS DOVE CREEK VOR WAS STARTING TO COME ALIVE. THE REPLY TO THE CTLR WAS 055 DEGS. HE SAID YOUR ASSIGNED WAS 050 DEGS FOR DOVE CREEK. WE ANSWERED 'ROGER' AND NOTHING MORE WAS SAID BY THE CTLR OR US. WE CORRECTED LEFT TO 050 DEGS TO MAKE HIM HAPPY AND PROCEEDED TO DOVE CREEK. AS IT TURNED OUT, OUR 055 DEG HDG WAS BETTER FOR DOVE CREEK. WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR THE TURNS IN RETROSPECT AND WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE. THIS CTLR DIDN'T LIKE OUR TURNS, OBVIOUSLY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA HOWEVER, FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH ATC. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED.

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.