Small transport held in the wrong direction at a fix and almost entered another facility's airspace.

Attributes
ACN	95686
Time
Date	198810
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eca airport : sck
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sck
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	95686
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon contacting departure we were given vectors to holding on the 215 degree radial 20 DME fix. Five mi legs, right turns. We were very busy at the time the hold was issued. The instructions were read back, then we discussed the hold. The way the hold was issued he seemed to want us between 20-25 mi but after we passed the fix he (the controller) stated we should be between 15-20 and we almost went into the next controller's (bay) airspace. We were then issued vectors to sfo. I think the controller's instructions could have been clearer. Both myself and the new captain agreed that we correctly interpreted the instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT HELD IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AT A FIX AND ALMOST ENTERED ANOTHER FACILITY'S AIRSPACE.

Narrative: UPON CONTACTING DEP WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO HOLDING ON THE 215 DEG RADIAL 20 DME FIX. FIVE MI LEGS, RIGHT TURNS. WE WERE VERY BUSY AT THE TIME THE HOLD WAS ISSUED. THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE READ BACK, THEN WE DISCUSSED THE HOLD. THE WAY THE HOLD WAS ISSUED HE SEEMED TO WANT US BTWN 20-25 MI BUT AFTER WE PASSED THE FIX HE (THE CTLR) STATED WE SHOULD BE BTWN 15-20 AND WE ALMOST WENT INTO THE NEXT CTLR'S (BAY) AIRSPACE. WE WERE THEN ISSUED VECTORS TO SFO. I THINK THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER. BOTH MYSELF AND THE NEW CAPT AGREED THAT WE CORRECTLY INTERPRETED THE INSTRUCTIONS.

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.