Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 94; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 423
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During a routine flight we were given vectors by ATC to avoid a MOA.  Once cleared of the MOA; ATC gave us direct to a waypoint and then destination.  Upon punching in direct to the waypoint in the FMS; the airplane started to turn left to a heading of 211 degrees. Once it started the turn; I noticed something was wrong; and the FMS was showing that we where 3 miles south of the waypoint; and it seemed to be making a left turn to try and hit the point before going direct to destination. ATC immediately inquired why we were turning left in the direction of the area he just gave us vectors to get around.  I told him that we must have passed the intersection; and the plane wanted to double back to the point.  He then informed me; 'Negative; the intersection is twenty miles to your south; turn to a heading of 190.' So I did as he said; and that's when I had time to access the situation; and notice that the FMS GPS position was not correct. I think I know the reason why this happened.  When putting the information into the FMS I had put in our destination as our current location while on the ground.  After doing so I realized my mistake; put in the wrong intersections and waypoints on the flight plan in the wrong sequence.  Even though I had corrected the initial fix; I think that the FMS stored our current location as destination; making the airplane think it was still at the wrong airport.I have made a note of this; and have informed all our other pilots that if they plug in the wrong airport on initial FMS start up; then you must simply turn the box off; then back on to reset it; and start all over.
The pilot of a Learjet 35A mismanaged his onboard navigational equipment and lost situational awareness; culminating in heading and course deviations. ATC noticed his difficulty and provided radar vectors until he regained orientation and was able to proceed to his destination all by himself.