TRACON vectored and descended large transport toward mountainous terrain.

Attributes
ACN	104188
Time
Date	198902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10800 msl bound upper : 11800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc tower : mynn
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 171 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	104188
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 112 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	104473
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

At about XA42 local climbing out from slc, heading toward fairfield VOR climbing to 16000' MSL assigned we were given 'immediate right turn to 250 degrees, descend to 10000'.' we were at 11800' MSL at that time and commenced the turn and descent. At 10800' we were issued new instructions for a left turn, climb to fairfield. End of incident. Comments: prior to takeoff on our briefing we went over, in detail, the mountains to the east and west, on the slc area chart and the shaded ama's on our route south, what we would do if we lost 1 or 2 engines, icing, etc. The controller who was working us was talking to only 1 other aircraft. The controller also gave other aircraft deviations. The tone of his voice and the word 'immediately' betrayed a threatening situation. I was not pleased to be controled into a mountain and to be unable to talk to the controller because he was talking to other aircraft. What if our radios failed? At the time we were in the clouds unable to see other traffic, icing conditions with engine anti-ice on. We were being headed into an area with an ama of 12800', in the clouds, icing, with instructions to descend to 10000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON VECTORED AND DESCENDED LGT TOWARD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Narrative: AT ABOUT XA42 LCL CLBING OUT FROM SLC, HDG TOWARD FAIRFIELD VOR CLBING TO 16000' MSL ASSIGNED WE WERE GIVEN 'IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN TO 250 DEGS, DSND TO 10000'.' WE WERE AT 11800' MSL AT THAT TIME AND COMMENCED THE TURN AND DSCNT. AT 10800' WE WERE ISSUED NEW INSTRUCTIONS FOR A LEFT TURN, CLB TO FAIRFIELD. END OF INCIDENT. COMMENTS: PRIOR TO TKOF ON OUR BRIEFING WE WENT OVER, IN DETAIL, THE MOUNTAINS TO THE E AND W, ON THE SLC AREA CHART AND THE SHADED AMA'S ON OUR ROUTE S, WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE LOST 1 OR 2 ENGS, ICING, ETC. THE CTLR WHO WAS WORKING US WAS TALKING TO ONLY 1 OTHER ACFT. THE CTLR ALSO GAVE OTHER ACFT DEVIATIONS. THE TONE OF HIS VOICE AND THE WORD 'IMMEDIATELY' BETRAYED A THREATENING SITUATION. I WAS NOT PLEASED TO BE CTLED INTO A MOUNTAIN AND TO BE UNABLE TO TALK TO THE CTLR BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING TO OTHER ACFT. WHAT IF OUR RADIOS FAILED? AT THE TIME WE WERE IN THE CLOUDS UNABLE TO SEE OTHER TFC, ICING CONDITIONS WITH ENG ANTI-ICE ON. WE WERE BEING HEADED INTO AN AREA WITH AN AMA OF 12800', IN THE CLOUDS, ICING, WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND TO 10000'.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.