Narrative:

Approximately 70 NM 310 degree radial center said descend to 13,000 (one-three thousand) good rate to FL220 lex altimeter 30:10'. Rate of descent was established at 3000 FPM then 1500 FPM was established per air carrier X's flight operations manual. First officer was flying the aircraft with the assistance of the automatic flight control system. The captain then stated 'I'm off to check the lex ATIS, and give a cabin PA'. I said 'I'll monitor the radios'. We set the altimeters (all 3 altimeters to 30:10 and cross-checked them to 30:10). At approximately FL190 center said 'descend to one-one thousand and turn left 20 degree for traffic'. I acknowledged 'descend to one-one thousand, left 20 degree for traffic'. At that point the captain returned and asked 'what are we doing?' I said 'down to 11,000 20 degree left for traffic'. He said 'ok, I'm off again to call lex company in range'. (10 min from arrival.) the center then asked 'air carrier flight X say heading?' I said '105 degree'. Center said 'say heading?' in a hurried type of voice, 'air carrier flight X, fly heading 160 degree now!' I acknowledged, 'right 160 degree now, is there a traffic conflict?' center said, 'yes an air carrier flight at 10 O'clock 8 mi nwbnd, what's your altitude?' the captain returned to the #1 radio and told center 'we're out of one-seven thousand'. I then briefed the captain on the situation. We both agreed a NASA report should be submitted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR ACFT, 1 ARR AND 1 DEP. ACFT X UNDER ARTCC VECTORS.

Narrative: APPROX 70 NM 310 DEG RADIAL CENTER SAID DSND TO 13,000 (ONE-THREE THOUSAND) GOOD RATE TO FL220 LEX ALTIMETER 30:10'. RATE OF DSCNT WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3000 FPM THEN 1500 FPM WAS ESTABLISHED PER AIR CARRIER X'S FLT OPS MANUAL. F/O WAS FLYING THE ACFT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AUTOMATIC FLT CTL SYSTEM. THE CAPT THEN STATED 'I'M OFF TO CHECK THE LEX ATIS, AND GIVE A CABIN PA'. I SAID 'I'LL MONITOR THE RADIOS'. WE SET THE ALTIMETERS (ALL 3 ALTIMETERS TO 30:10 AND CROSS-CHECKED THEM TO 30:10). AT APPROX FL190 CENTER SAID 'DSND TO ONE-ONE THOUSAND AND TURN LEFT 20 DEG FOR TFC'. I ACKNOWLEDGED 'DSND TO ONE-ONE THOUSAND, LEFT 20 DEG FOR TFC'. AT THAT POINT THE CAPT RETURNED AND ASKED 'WHAT ARE WE DOING?' I SAID 'DOWN TO 11,000 20 DEG LEFT FOR TFC'. HE SAID 'OK, I'M OFF AGAIN TO CALL LEX COMPANY IN RANGE'. (10 MIN FROM ARRIVAL.) THE CENTER THEN ASKED 'ACR FLT X SAY HDG?' I SAID '105 DEG'. CENTER SAID 'SAY HDG?' IN A HURRIED TYPE OF VOICE, 'ACR FLT X, FLY HDG 160 DEG NOW!' I ACKNOWLEDGED, 'RIGHT 160 DEG NOW, IS THERE A TFC CONFLICT?' CENTER SAID, 'YES AN ACR FLT AT 10 O'CLOCK 8 MI NWBND, WHAT'S YOUR ALT?' THE CAPT RETURNED TO THE #1 RADIO AND TOLD CENTER 'WE'RE OUT OF ONE-SEVEN THOUSAND'. I THEN BRIEFED THE CAPT ON THE SITUATION. WE BOTH AGREED A NASA REPORT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED.

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.