Narrative:

I was the ZLC radar controller during this incident. The 3 aircraft involved were air carrier abc flight #1, air carrier abc flight #2, and air carrier xyz flight #3. On the diagram on the reverse side, notice that flight #2 is 'off the scope,' too far south for me to see him. As I took the handoff from ZLA sector 33 (ZLA 33), I called them and obtained control of air carrier #1 because I needed to turn him a little bit right to stay out in front of flight #3. ZLA 33 sent flight #1 over to me (communication change) and flight #2 took the communication change instead. That's 5 or 6 sets of ears being confused (or hearing the wrong thing) because of similar call signs. Now flight #2 checks in, and 1 more set of ears mishears it -- me! I immediately turn flight #1 right 15 degrees. After a bit, I see that he hasn't turned, so I ask him if he's completed his turn. He said yes, he's heading north now, so because it looks 'not so good' with flight #3, I turn him an additional 20 degrees right. By this time I've already turned flight #3 10 degrees right, but I'm kind of boxed in with him, in reference to the nellis AFB range. As time passes, I'm able to turn him further south, and I do. Now I'm pretty torqued at flight #1 because he's acknowledging my control instructions, but doesn't appear to be complying! About this time ZLA 33 calls up, says flight #1 is still with him, and would I like him to turn flight #1. I say yes, turn him 20 degrees right. At the same time, flight #2 is asking me why I keep calling him flight #1! I called ZLA 33 and they inform me that there was no loss of separation with flight #2 with any other aircraft, and to send him back to them, so I did. My 2 aircraft missed with 7 or 8 mi. ZLA 33 apparently got the gist of what was happening. When conflict alert activated and I had apparently taken no action with flight #1 and flight #2 all of a sudden appeared to be turning right all on his own! Very scary -- someone could have been seriously injured in a TCASII maneuver or worse.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION REIGNS WITH ZLC CTLR WHEN THE WRONG ACR FLT CHANGES TO HIS SECTOR AND HE HAS DIFFICULTY IN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION BTWN 2 OTHER ACFT, 1 NOT IN COM WITH HIS SECTOR BECAUSE OF THE WRONG CHANGEOVER.

Narrative: I WAS THE ZLC RADAR CTLR DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE 3 ACFT INVOLVED WERE ACR ABC FLT #1, ACR ABC FLT #2, AND ACR XYZ FLT #3. ON THE DIAGRAM ON THE REVERSE SIDE, NOTICE THAT FLT #2 IS 'OFF THE SCOPE,' TOO FAR S FOR ME TO SEE HIM. AS I TOOK THE HDOF FROM ZLA SECTOR 33 (ZLA 33), I CALLED THEM AND OBTAINED CTL OF ACR #1 BECAUSE I NEEDED TO TURN HIM A LITTLE BIT R TO STAY OUT IN FRONT OF FLT #3. ZLA 33 SENT FLT #1 OVER TO ME (COM CHANGE) AND FLT #2 TOOK THE COM CHANGE INSTEAD. THAT'S 5 OR 6 SETS OF EARS BEING CONFUSED (OR HEARING THE WRONG THING) BECAUSE OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. NOW FLT #2 CHKS IN, AND 1 MORE SET OF EARS MISHEARS IT -- ME! I IMMEDIATELY TURN FLT #1 R 15 DEGS. AFTER A BIT, I SEE THAT HE HASN'T TURNED, SO I ASK HIM IF HE'S COMPLETED HIS TURN. HE SAID YES, HE'S HDG N NOW, SO BECAUSE IT LOOKS 'NOT SO GOOD' WITH FLT #3, I TURN HIM AN ADDITIONAL 20 DEGS R. BY THIS TIME I'VE ALREADY TURNED FLT #3 10 DEGS R, BUT I'M KIND OF BOXED IN WITH HIM, IN REF TO THE NELLIS AFB RANGE. AS TIME PASSES, I'M ABLE TO TURN HIM FURTHER S, AND I DO. NOW I'M PRETTY TORQUED AT FLT #1 BECAUSE HE'S ACKNOWLEDGING MY CTL INSTRUCTIONS, BUT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE COMPLYING! ABOUT THIS TIME ZLA 33 CALLS UP, SAYS FLT #1 IS STILL WITH HIM, AND WOULD I LIKE HIM TO TURN FLT #1. I SAY YES, TURN HIM 20 DEGS R. AT THE SAME TIME, FLT #2 IS ASKING ME WHY I KEEP CALLING HIM FLT #1! I CALLED ZLA 33 AND THEY INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION WITH FLT #2 WITH ANY OTHER ACFT, AND TO SEND HIM BACK TO THEM, SO I DID. MY 2 ACFT MISSED WITH 7 OR 8 MI. ZLA 33 APPARENTLY GOT THE GIST OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WHEN CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AND I HAD APPARENTLY TAKEN NO ACTION WITH FLT #1 AND FLT #2 ALL OF A SUDDEN APPEARED TO BE TURNING R ALL ON HIS OWN! VERY SCARY -- SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A TCASII MANEUVER OR WORSE.

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.