Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 18000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Workload; Time Pressure; Confusion; Distraction
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
Captain programmed FMS for SYR. Alternate was ROC with weather building in the area. After BEEPS the Captain put ROC airport instead of SYR. Neither Captain nor the First Officer noted the error. ATC cleared flight to 15;000 FT and plane turned to ROC. ATC asked if we were turning to SYR. The First Officer was the flying pilot stopped the descent and the turn until the Captain reprogrammed the FMS and turned to SYR. The Controller never gave any change of instructions.No TCAS alert. Error was due to the plane arriving late about 50 minutes to gate due to Maintenance. Captain was concerned with weather at the alternate ROC and put that into the flight plan. During the flight we were watching the weather and did not notice anything wrong until the Controller asked if we were turning toward SYR. Be more vigilant while programming the FMS and flying. Not being so concerned about the time off the gate. Rushing did not help.
An aircraft was late arriving at the gate; so the Captain hurriedly entered the FMS data with an incorrect destination; ROC instead of SYR. Enroute watching weather; the crew missed the error until ATC queried about the destination.