Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 9
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
I was the On the Job Training (OJT) Instructor. Aircraft X departed IFR climbing out of 700 feet. We identified Aircraft X and instructed them 'reaching 3;000 feet; turn right direct Airport ZZZ'. The pilot read back 'roger coming right direct ZZZ'; and we didn't catch the incorrect read back. Aircraft X data block never acquired; and I observed the primary target west of the departure corridor by about 1.5 miles; climbing out of 1;700 feet and realized what had happened. The Trainee asked 'Aircraft X verify heading 200' and Aircraft X responded 'negative; we are heading 297; direct ZZZ'. I took over and asked if Aircraft X could maintain his own terrain and obstruction clearance; because he was now in a 3;700 foot minimum vectoring altitude; the pilot responded 'yes'; I instructed the trainee to issue the clearance and after Aircraft X passed 3;700 feet he was cleared as filed.Expectation bias was a large factor in this; more attentive listening on our part would have prevented this from occurring.
A departing aircraft was issued a direct routing leaving 3;000 feet. The pilot read back the routing; but not the altitude instruction. The readback was not noticed by the controllers and the aircraft proceeded on course below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.