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ZDC intrafac coordination breakdown between 2 controllers and incorrect interim altitude computer assignment.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 456769 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199912 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 21000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other other vortac |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure sid : yeast enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival star : terks |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller military : 5 controller radar : 14 |
| ASRS Report | 456769 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory none taken : insufficient time other |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 18000 vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Facility Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | communication equipment : zdc.artcc |
Narrative:
Air carrier Y was a B727, flying the terks 2 starting about 20 mi west of fak at FL210. Air carrier X was a B757 that had departed ric airport, direct mol en route to sdf. I was working ZDC sector 60/52 when ZDC sector 21 called and requested to send air carrier X direct mol instead of the yeast 1 (SID). I said approved. The ZDC 21 controller flashed the handoff on air carrier X with an interim altitude of FL200. But what ZDC 21 had did was climb the aircraft to FL230 and switch the frequencys to ZDC sector 60. When air carrier X checked in with ZDC sector 60, the radio transmit key was switched to 'on,' forcing air carrier X's call into a speaker. I heard the call of air carrier X, but not the altitude climbing to. I informed air carrier X to expect higher in about 6 mins, due to traffic. I issued traffic to air carrier Y 12 O'clock position and 20 mi opposite direction, a B757 climbing to FL200, and then switched air carrier Y to frequency 133.9. I then issued traffic to air carrier X, 12 O'clock position, 20 mi opposite direction a B727 descending to FL210. When the aircraft were 5 mi, I issued traffic to air carrier X again, 12 O'clock 5 mi, 1000 ft above. I then noticed air carrier X's mode C at FL203. I questioned the assigned altitude - FL200. They stated they were assigned FL230. I now noticed their mode C at FL207 and air carrier X said they had the traffic in sight. The 2 aircraft passed without further incident. The radio control switch on the voice switching command system is turned on when you get a landline call or over radio call. This is so if an aircraft is saying something on your frequency - it doesn't step or block out the controller. The call is rerted to an overhead speaker.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC INTRAFAC COORD BREAKDOWN BTWN 2 CTLRS AND INCORRECT INTERIM ALT COMPUTER ASSIGNMENT.
Narrative: ACR Y WAS A B727, FLYING THE TERKS 2 STARTING ABOUT 20 MI W OF FAK AT FL210. ACR X WAS A B757 THAT HAD DEPARTED RIC ARPT, DIRECT MOL ENRTE TO SDF. I WAS WORKING ZDC SECTOR 60/52 WHEN ZDC SECTOR 21 CALLED AND REQUESTED TO SEND ACR X DIRECT MOL INSTEAD OF THE YEAST 1 (SID). I SAID APPROVED. THE ZDC 21 CTLR FLASHED THE HDOF ON ACR X WITH AN INTERIM ALT OF FL200. BUT WHAT ZDC 21 HAD DID WAS CLB THE ACFT TO FL230 AND SWITCH THE FREQS TO ZDC SECTOR 60. WHEN ACR X CHKED IN WITH ZDC SECTOR 60, THE RADIO XMIT KEY WAS SWITCHED TO 'ON,' FORCING ACR X'S CALL INTO A SPEAKER. I HEARD THE CALL OF ACR X, BUT NOT THE ALT CLBING TO. I INFORMED ACR X TO EXPECT HIGHER IN ABOUT 6 MINS, DUE TO TFC. I ISSUED TFC TO ACR Y 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 20 MI OPPOSITE DIRECTION, A B757 CLBING TO FL200, AND THEN SWITCHED ACR Y TO FREQ 133.9. I THEN ISSUED TFC TO ACR X, 12 O'CLOCK POS, 20 MI OPPOSITE DIRECTION A B727 DSNDING TO FL210. WHEN THE ACFT WERE 5 MI, I ISSUED TFC TO ACR X AGAIN, 12 O'CLOCK 5 MI, 1000 FT ABOVE. I THEN NOTICED ACR X'S MODE C AT FL203. I QUESTIONED THE ASSIGNED ALT - FL200. THEY STATED THEY WERE ASSIGNED FL230. I NOW NOTICED THEIR MODE C AT FL207 AND ACR X SAID THEY HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. THE 2 ACFT PASSED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE RADIO CTL SWITCH ON THE VOICE SWITCHING COMMAND SYS IS TURNED ON WHEN YOU GET A LANDLINE CALL OR OVER RADIO CALL. THIS IS SO IF AN ACFT IS SAYING SOMETHING ON YOUR FREQ - IT DOESN'T STEP OR BLOCK OUT THE CTLR. THE CALL IS RERTED TO AN OVERHEAD SPEAKER.
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.