Operator error between military X and military Y.

Attributes
ACN	283898
Time
Date	199409
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nmm
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nmm
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Buckeye T-20
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Skyhawk (A4)
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	283898
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

The WX was marginal VFR with reduced visibility due to ground fog. PAR approachs were being conducted several frequencys were released to maintenance due to earlier trouble. I was informed a particular frequency was returned for use. I attempted to use it and it appeared normal initial contact was normal. Later when vital control instructions were issued, the aircraft didn't respond. After several attempts to contact the aircraft, alternate instructions were given to an aircraft near violation to aircraft #1. Aircraft #2 took instructions and avoided collision, but violated FAA minimums. I must include the fact that numerous (12-13) aircraft were being worked at the given time. This is not a problem as long as we use reliable equipment. The 2 aircraft were both within 15 mi of the airport, so near altitudes is expected. Our facility has had numerous problems with our frequencys. Request and letters for new equipment has gotten nowhere. Frequencys are released on a daily basis for repairs. Our equipment is antiquated and unreliable. The safety of our flying public cannot be sacrificed because of unpredictable equipment. Attached is a copy of the letter I sent to washington with a ucr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPERATOR ERROR BTWN MIL X AND MIL Y.

Narrative: THE WX WAS MARGINAL VFR WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO GND FOG. PAR APCHS WERE BEING CONDUCTED SEVERAL FREQS WERE RELEASED TO MAINT DUE TO EARLIER TROUBLE. I WAS INFORMED A PARTICULAR FREQ WAS RETURNED FOR USE. I ATTEMPTED TO USE IT AND IT APPEARED NORMAL INITIAL CONTACT WAS NORMAL. LATER WHEN VITAL CTL INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED, THE ACFT DIDN'T RESPOND. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE ACFT, ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TO AN ACFT NEAR VIOLATION TO ACFT #1. ACFT #2 TOOK INSTRUCTIONS AND AVOIDED COLLISION, BUT VIOLATED FAA MINIMUMS. I MUST INCLUDE THE FACT THAT NUMEROUS (12-13) ACFT WERE BEING WORKED AT THE GIVEN TIME. THIS IS NOT A PROB AS LONG AS WE USE RELIABLE EQUIP. THE 2 ACFT WERE BOTH WITHIN 15 MI OF THE ARPT, SO NEAR ALTS IS EXPECTED. OUR FACILITY HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBS WITH OUR FREQS. REQUEST AND LETTERS FOR NEW EQUIP HAS GOTTEN NOWHERE. FREQS ARE RELEASED ON A DAILY BASIS FOR REPAIRS. OUR EQUIP IS ANTIQUATED AND UNRELIABLE. THE SAFETY OF OUR FLYING PUBLIC CANNOT BE SACRIFICED BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABLE EQUIP. ATTACHED IS A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO WASHINGTON WITH A UCR.

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.