NASA · Aviation Safety Reporting System
Air carrier flight crew reported ORD Tower assigned them a 180 heading after departure, but were later advised they had been assigned a right turn heading 040.
What is ASRS?
The Aviation Safety Reporting System is NASA's voluntary, confidential, non- punitive incident-reporting system, established 1976. Pilots, controllers, dispatchers, and maintenance technicians file reports describing safety- relevant events. NASA de-identifies every report before adding it to the public database. Reports are not investigated by NASA, the FAA, or the NTSB — they represent the reporter's perspective.
Pilot narratives
Verbatim from the de-identified NASA record. First-person account by the
reporter. NASA strips identifying details (names, company, specific time);
anonymization placeholders are ZZZ,
X, Y.
Reporter 1
On takeoff I thought I heard "fly heading 180". I read back "180" without being corrected and the Captain concurred with the heading. After takeoff the Tower told us to turn to 040 and the Captain inquired about our original heading. We were later told to contact the tower for a possible deviation. It was a short and fast taxi with no other aircraft in sequence for takeoff. I'm not sure if I read back the wrong initial heading or we were given it in error. I felt a little rushed and had just finishing a checklist as we were cleared for takeoff. We should have taxied slower and been more methodical in preparation for takeoff to reduce task saturation.
Reporter 2
We were cleared line up and wait 28R. While still taking 28R, then cleared for takeoff, before we got on the runway (Aircraft X heading 180 cleared for takeoff) I selected 180 and pointed to the heading, and accepted the clearance. The First Officer repeated clearance to ORD Tower. After takeoff I started a left turn to 180, Tower then instructed us to turn right to 040. After the turn I inquired about the 180 heading. I was asked what I was given and replied 180. We checked on with Departure and later they told us to call ORD tower to inquire for a possible deviation. No correction from Tower was given by Tower after accepting and repeating the 180 heading. No conflict with other aircraft was reported or experienced. We were running late because of maintenance, ACARS was on MEL. Was given line up and wait while still on Taxiway N, cleared for takeoff while taxiing on to runway. We were just finishing the checklist before we entered the runway when they cleared us for takeoff. We paused takeoff for a moment to check winds and make sure before takeoff check was complete. I didn't hear before takeoff check complete because of Tower clearing us for takeoff. I then started takeoff roll. I as Captain and flying pilot should have waited to set my heading when we stopped before takeoff roll. I may have inadvertently caused the First Officer to acknowledge the takeoff clearance while he was stating the before takeoff check was complete.
NASA classification — Anomalies
- ATC Issue
- Deviation - Track / Heading
- Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural
NASA classification — Assessments
- Contributing Factors / Situations
- Chart Or Publication · Human Factors · Procedure
- Primary Problem
- Human Factors
ASRS reports are voluntarily submitted, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective. The presence of reports on a topic cannot be used to infer prevalence in the National Airspace System. The authoritative source is the NASA ASRS Database Online at asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗.