A MD90 crew with a single VOR for navigation and a fam ATC controller in the jumpseat became distrac...

Narrative:

We were flying an aircraft with two complimentary maintenance discrepancies. The FMS database wasn't working so we were forced to fly in raw data. In addition; the number 2 VOR was also on inoperative. That left us with just the number 1 VOR for navigation. The deviation came on the return flight. We were on an airway with a transition to an arrival. We missed the passage of the VOR somehow. This resulted in us flying outbound on the 131 degree radial instead of the 99 degree radial. We were showing about 20 DME past the turn VOR when ATC queried us to our position south of the arrival. That is when we noticed our error. The controller gave us a heading to rejoin the arrival. We were back on the correct radial in a couple of minutes. ATC did not advise us of any loss of separation nor did TCAS show any traffic in the area. There could have been several distractions that caused the deviation. The situation with the navigation of the plane was one. Thanks to the reliability of the system we rarely see a plane without RNAV capability. It is something we are more than capable of; just out of practice with it. Also; there was an ATC person on the jumpseat. We may have let our conversation with him distract us. I don't think there should be any change to the fam (familiarization) flight by controllers. We were just talking about where the program was going and how we were all in agreement it will be a very worth while program. Also; about that time the flight attendants let us know about a reading light that needed to be fixed. That may have pulled our attention away at an inopportune time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MD90 crew with a single VOR for navigation and a FAM ATC Controller in the jumpseat became distracted so when they missed a turn over a VOR a track deviation resulted.

Narrative: We were flying an aircraft with two complimentary maintenance discrepancies. The FMS database wasn't working so we were forced to fly in raw data. In addition; the Number 2 VOR was also on inoperative. That left us with just the Number 1 VOR for navigation. The deviation came on the return flight. We were on an airway with a transition to an arrival. We missed the passage of the VOR somehow. This resulted in us flying outbound on the 131 degree radial instead of the 99 degree radial. We were showing about 20 DME past the turn VOR when ATC queried us to our position south of the arrival. That is when we noticed our error. The Controller gave us a heading to rejoin the arrival. We were back on the correct radial in a couple of minutes. ATC did not advise us of any loss of separation nor did TCAS show any traffic in the area. There could have been several distractions that caused the deviation. The situation with the navigation of the plane was one. Thanks to the reliability of the system we rarely see a plane without RNAV capability. It is something we are more than capable of; just out of practice with it. Also; there was an ATC person on the jumpseat. We may have let our conversation with him distract us. I don't think there should be any change to the FAM (familiarization) flight by controllers. We were just talking about where the program was going and how we were all in agreement it will be a very worth while program. Also; about that time the flight attendants let us know about a reading light that needed to be fixed. That may have pulled our attention away at an inopportune time.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	974297
Time
Date	201110
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-90 Series (DC-9-90) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	ILS/VOR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 8300 Flight Crew Type 4000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

A MD90 crew with a single VOR for navigation and a fam ATC controller in the jumpseat became distracted so when they missed a turn over a VOR a track deviation resulted.