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ZKC controller reported an aircraft climbing to 35;000 feet stopped climbing at 34;600 feet and began descending. The center controller had to descend opposite direction traffic that was at 34;000 feet to avoid a confliction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1390190 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201609 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZKC.ARTCC |
| State Reference | KS |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-900 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5.0 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7.0 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural FAR |
Narrative:
Aircraft X was climbing to 35;000 feet. Aircraft Y was in level flight at 34;000 feet over sgf. When the aircraft were about 4-5 minutes away; conflict alert went off because aircraft X was out of 34;400 feet and climbing slowly. This seemed to not be an issue since there was plenty of time to get an extra 600 feet even if the aircraft was climbing slowly. Conflict alert stopped when aircraft X finally made it to 34;600 feet. There were a couple of updates all at FL346 and conflict alert went off again. I told the aircraft to expedite to 35;000 feet and he responded that they were doing the best they could. After another update; I decided to descend aircraft Y to 32;000 feet.after doing so; aircraft X lost altitude and started descending. I asked the aircraft to verify that he was still climbing to 35;000 feet with no response. Aircraft Y advised he was responding to a TCAS RA and I acknowledged him. When aircraft X was at about 34;100 feet I told him to maintain 34;000 feet in hopes that he would not descend further because sector 29 had traffic as well that was at 34;000 feet that had FL300 in the data block trying to get out of the way of aircraft X. After letting aircraft X level for a couple minutes and after it was out of the way of all other traffic I asked if he still wanted to climb to 35;000 feet and he advised that he couldn't make 35;000 feet. This was the only indication of him not being able to hold their altitude.eventually; I coordinated with sector 29 and descended aircraft X to 33;000 feet to make them right for direction.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZKC Controller reported an aircraft climbing to 35;000 feet stopped climbing at 34;600 feet and began descending. The Center controller had to descend opposite direction traffic that was at 34;000 feet to avoid a confliction.
Narrative: Aircraft X was climbing to 35;000 feet. Aircraft Y was in level flight at 34;000 feet over SGF. When the aircraft were about 4-5 minutes away; conflict alert went off because aircraft X was out of 34;400 feet and climbing slowly. This seemed to not be an issue since there was plenty of time to get an extra 600 feet even if the aircraft was climbing slowly. Conflict alert stopped when aircraft X finally made it to 34;600 feet. There were a couple of updates all at FL346 and conflict alert went off again. I told the aircraft to expedite to 35;000 feet and he responded that they were doing the best they could. After another update; I decided to descend aircraft Y to 32;000 feet.After doing so; aircraft X lost altitude and started descending. I asked the aircraft to verify that he was still climbing to 35;000 feet with no response. Aircraft Y advised he was responding to a TCAS RA and I acknowledged him. When aircraft X was at about 34;100 feet I told him to maintain 34;000 feet in hopes that he would not descend further because Sector 29 had traffic as well that was at 34;000 feet that had FL300 in the data block trying to get out of the way of aircraft X. After letting aircraft X level for a couple minutes and after it was out of the way of all other traffic I asked if he still wanted to climb to 35;000 feet and he advised that he couldn't make 35;000 feet. This was the only indication of him not being able to hold their altitude.Eventually; I coordinated with Sector 29 and descended aircraft X to 33;000 feet to make them right for direction.
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.