Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 3330
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
While conducting a practice VOR A approach to FUL in VFR conditions with a safety pilot onboard I was executing the published procedure turn and made a left turn inbound instead of a right turn as published on the approach plate. I had set the approach into the GPS to use for situational awareness only and was using the SLI VOR for navigation since this was a VOR A approach (not a GPS approach). The [GPS] displayed the procedure turn; but since the aircraft was past the point where the initial turn outbound was drawn on the display; it appeared that a left turn was needed to follow the graphic displayed on the GPS screen. I blindly followed the graphic display instead of confirming on the approach plate the correct direction to turn inbound. SCT Approach immediately queried us on which direction we were turning inbound and pointed out that the procedure turn should be a right turn; not a left turn. This is a good lesson in not blindly using technology and to always cross check to confirm you are flying what is published on the approach plate.
Pilot made incorrect turn to initiate the VOR A approach to FUL due to misinterpretation of the GPS graphic display.