Bonanza
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2005
- Messages
- 154
- Location
- N California & New Zealand
- Display Name
Display name:
Bonanza
Recently I visited Hollister in Central California. I picked up my IFR clearance on the ground and was cleared ditect PATYY intersection then as filed. I entered the flight plan in the Garmin 530, took off and merrily followed the magenta line. The controller asked if I was routing direct PATYY and I confirmed I was (this should have been my first clue). After a few minutes the controller asked my heading (second clue) and suggested I turned left by 100 degrees vectors for PATYY. Being astute in these matters I realized all was not well and started checking.
I had mistakenly entered PATTY (not PATYY) in the GPS, this being an intersection in Puerto Rico some 2000 nm away.
I guess I had just become too complacent, too reliant on the magic magenta line and basically careless.
On my recent trip to Texas I was back to tuning the VOR's as a cross check to the GPS and checking the mileage on the GPS flight plan against my flight log. All things I used to do religiously every time I flew.
A salutory lesson learned, thankfully without any catastrophic consequences, just some hurt pride and a sore butt from kicking myself for the next few days.
Stephen.
I had mistakenly entered PATTY (not PATYY) in the GPS, this being an intersection in Puerto Rico some 2000 nm away.
I guess I had just become too complacent, too reliant on the magic magenta line and basically careless.
On my recent trip to Texas I was back to tuning the VOR's as a cross check to the GPS and checking the mileage on the GPS flight plan against my flight log. All things I used to do religiously every time I flew.
A salutory lesson learned, thankfully without any catastrophic consequences, just some hurt pride and a sore butt from kicking myself for the next few days.
Stephen.