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ZFW controller reports of radio problems with aircraft that is entering bad weather; controller does not hear pilot say mayday.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1181020 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201406 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZFW.ARTCC |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 16.5 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
I had just taken over the sector when I noticed aircraft X climbing. I checked with him to see if he needed a higher altitude. I'm not sure if it was our radios; but I was only able to get broken responses from him. During (or maybe after we got off the recorded line) the briefing I asked [another controller] what the tops were; and he said a jet was deviating and had turned direct shv at FL430; so it must be up to that. I noticed aircraft X turning toward the weather; and I told him that it appeared that he was turning into the worst of the weather. He made a garbled response that I thought was him saying something like; 'I'm turning away' he appeared to be turning away; making a 360. I also noticed aircraft X descending. He said he was spinning and I thought he said he was descending. He also said he couldn't see the horizon or the ground. Another aircraft said they heard him saying mayday; but I did not hear this. [The other controller] was still in the area; so he took my d-side.I recommend better frequencies in that area.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZFW Controller reports of radio problems with aircraft that is entering bad weather; Controller does not hear pilot say Mayday.
Narrative: I had just taken over the sector when I noticed Aircraft X climbing. I checked with him to see if he needed a higher altitude. I'm not sure if it was our radios; but I was only able to get broken responses from him. During (or maybe after we got off the recorded line) the briefing I asked [another Controller] what the tops were; and he said a jet was deviating and had turned direct SHV at FL430; so it must be up to that. I noticed Aircraft X turning toward the weather; and I told him that it appeared that he was turning into the worst of the weather. He made a garbled response that I thought was him saying something like; 'I'm turning away' He appeared to be turning away; making a 360. I also noticed Aircraft X descending. He said he was spinning and I thought he said he was descending. He also said he couldn't see the horizon or the ground. Another aircraft said they heard him saying Mayday; but I did not hear this. [The other Controller] was still in the area; so he took my d-side.I recommend better frequencies in that area.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.