Heading, track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	94927
Time
Date	198809
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : grw
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 11600 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	94927
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far 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:

Flight plan had been filed from greenwood airport direct to igb VOR. The clearance was read and copied as cleared direct to the grw VOR direct to igb VOR. Departed to the north and made a left turn toward the grw VOR. This gave me a heading of about 230 degrees to go direct to the VOR. My next route of flight was 086 degrees off of the VOR toward igb. As I approached 3 NM DME (knowing that I was within the airspace of the arwy width) I began turn (standard rate) to the left to intercept the direct course from grw to igb and therefore never made it exactly over the VOR. ZME called and asked if I were over the VOR. I was outbnd to intercept 086 degrees. The controller indicated that he needed me directly over the VOR for traffic sep. I didn't want to discuss the problem with him at the time and apologized for the mix up. Next time I'll try to go all the way over the station instead of trying to stay on the arwy. I thought that the aim recommended turning in order to stay on the course. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter considered he was close enough to the VOR to start the turn as he would be sure to overshoot the station in the process of making a 144 degree turn onto outbnd course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING, TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FROM GREENWOOD ARPT DIRECT TO IGB VOR. THE CLRNC WAS READ AND COPIED AS CLRED DIRECT TO THE GRW VOR DIRECT TO IGB VOR. DEPARTED TO THE N AND MADE A LEFT TURN TOWARD THE GRW VOR. THIS GAVE ME A HDG OF ABOUT 230 DEGS TO GO DIRECT TO THE VOR. MY NEXT ROUTE OF FLT WAS 086 DEGS OFF OF THE VOR TOWARD IGB. AS I APCHED 3 NM DME (KNOWING THAT I WAS WITHIN THE AIRSPACE OF THE ARWY WIDTH) I BEGAN TURN (STANDARD RATE) TO THE LEFT TO INTERCEPT THE DIRECT COURSE FROM GRW TO IGB AND THEREFORE NEVER MADE IT EXACTLY OVER THE VOR. ZME CALLED AND ASKED IF I WERE OVER THE VOR. I WAS OUTBND TO INTERCEPT 086 DEGS. THE CTLR INDICATED THAT HE NEEDED ME DIRECTLY OVER THE VOR FOR TFC SEP. I DIDN'T WANT TO DISCUSS THE PROB WITH HIM AT THE TIME AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE MIX UP. NEXT TIME I'LL TRY TO GO ALL THE WAY OVER THE STATION INSTEAD OF TRYING TO STAY ON THE ARWY. I THOUGHT THAT THE AIM RECOMMENDED TURNING IN ORDER TO STAY ON THE COURSE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR CONSIDERED HE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE VOR TO START THE TURN AS HE WOULD BE SURE TO OVERSHOOT THE STATION IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A 144 DEG TURN ONTO OUTBND COURSE.

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.