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ZHU ARTCC controller instructed a B757 crew at FL350 to turn immediately then descend to FL330. No explanation was given by ATC and apparently the crew didn't ask any questions. The captain called the center the next day for information and may have been told that they were turned for traffic 12 mi away and 2000 ft vertical.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 426740 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199901 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : lev |
| State Reference | LA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 7000 |
| ASRS Report | 426740 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 72000 vertical : 2000 |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
While cruising at FL350, the center controller stated 'turn immediately to heading 170 degrees.' he had an urgent tone in his voice. As we completed the turn, he commanded 'descend immediately to FL330.' after leveling off at FL330, we determined that a near miss had not occurred. A subsequent check with flight attendants revealed that no incident (spilled beverage/passenger falling) had occurred. The seat belt sign had been on due to light turbulence in the area. No TCASII sounded. In a phone call to center the next day, I learned that a conflict went unnoticed until alerts went off at the controller position.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZHU ARTCC CTLR INSTRUCTED A B757 CREW AT FL350 TO TURN IMMEDIATELY THEN DSND TO FL330. NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN BY ATC AND APPARENTLY THE CREW DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS. THE CAPT CALLED THE CTR THE NEXT DAY FOR INFO AND MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WERE TURNED FOR TFC 12 MI AWAY AND 2000 FT VERT.
Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL350, THE CTR CTLR STATED 'TURN IMMEDIATELY TO HDG 170 DEGS.' HE HAD AN URGENT TONE IN HIS VOICE. AS WE COMPLETED THE TURN, HE COMMANDED 'DSND IMMEDIATELY TO FL330.' AFTER LEVELING OFF AT FL330, WE DETERMINED THAT A NEAR MISS HAD NOT OCCURRED. A SUBSEQUENT CHK WITH FLT ATTENDANTS REVEALED THAT NO INCIDENT (SPILLED BEVERAGE/PAX FALLING) HAD OCCURRED. THE SEAT BELT SIGN HAD BEEN ON DUE TO LIGHT TURB IN THE AREA. NO TCASII SOUNDED. IN A PHONE CALL TO CTR THE NEXT DAY, I LEARNED THAT A CONFLICT WENT UNNOTICED UNTIL ALERTS WENT OFF AT THE CTLR POS.
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.