Air carrier X radar vector below MCA. System error.

Attributes
ACN	157612
Time
Date	199009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise 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 : 200 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	157612
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	156886
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Air carrier X was cleared for runway 4 VOR approach the lga and to maintain 180 KTS. At the qatar fix the controller told us to reduce to 160 KTS, descend to 2000' and turn right to 090 degrees. I questioned the heading because of the proximity of the jfk traffic pattern. No response. After approximately 1 min we were told to turn left to 320 degrees and we were cleared for the approach. At the noray final fix we were told to turn left to 270 degrees. I again questioned the heading. He stated that the aircraft we were following had come to almost complete stop. I stated we would not hold this heading for long. No response. Turn. At that time I saw the twin towers of the world trade center through the haze at our 12 O'clock position. Simultaneously as we started the climb the controller called for us to climb to 3000' immediately. We passed over the north tower, just as we leveled at 3000'. We were then vectored back to qatar and cleared for the approach. When the controller told us to switch to tower frequency he apologized for what happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X RADAR VECTOR BELOW MCA. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X WAS CLRED FOR RWY 4 VOR APCH THE LGA AND TO MAINTAIN 180 KTS. AT THE QATAR FIX THE CTLR TOLD US TO REDUCE TO 160 KTS, DSND TO 2000' AND TURN RIGHT TO 090 DEGS. I QUESTIONED THE HDG BECAUSE OF THE PROX OF THE JFK TFC PATTERN. NO RESPONSE. AFTER APPROX 1 MIN WE WERE TOLD TO TURN LEFT TO 320 DEGS AND WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. AT THE NORAY FINAL FIX WE WERE TOLD TO TURN LEFT TO 270 DEGS. I AGAIN QUESTIONED THE HDG. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT WE WERE FOLLOWING HAD COME TO ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. I STATED WE WOULD NOT HOLD THIS HDG FOR LONG. NO RESPONSE. TURN. AT THAT TIME I SAW THE TWIN TWRS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER THROUGH THE HAZE AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POS. SIMULTANEOUSLY AS WE STARTED THE CLB THE CTLR CALLED FOR US TO CLB TO 3000' IMMEDIATELY. WE PASSED OVER THE N TWR, JUST AS WE LEVELED AT 3000'. WE WERE THEN VECTORED BACK TO QATAR AND CLRED FOR THE APCH. WHEN THE CTLR TOLD US TO SWITCH TO TWR FREQ HE APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.