ZOB controller tries to resolve conflict between an LJ55 and an MD80 caused by a stuck microphone.

Attributes
ACN	539519
Time
Date	200202
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : air.vor
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Learjet 55
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 17 controller time certified in position1 : 15 flight time total : 1500
ASRS Report	539519
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 3 controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	539394
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A private jet was being stepped up in a climb swbound. It was leveled at FL310 for other traffic. The airliner (MD80) was wbound, on airway in level flight. When the controller went to climb the LR55 further, there was a stuck microphone. This prevented the aircraft from receiving the transmission. The controller tried to descend the airliner, but again the stuck microphone prevented that transmission also. The supervisor was notified, and tried to have the airline contact the MD80 separately. There was a break in the frequency and the controller was able to climb and turn the LR55 and descend the MD80, but not before separation had been lost. The closest proximity was 1300 ft and 4 mi. To offer a suggestion, the airlines have their own ACARS system to exchange information with planes. ATC should have an alternate messaging system to aircraft, or at least airlines to be used in such emergency sits. Perhaps this could be a shared system for the airlines/ATC or have ATC be able to use the ACARS already in place, but in an emergency mode only. Supplemental information from acn 539394: there should be visual and audio indicators in the aircraft to let pilots know when their radios are keyed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZOB CTLR TRIES TO RESOLVE CONFLICT BTWN AN LJ55 AND AN MD80 CAUSED BY A STUCK MIKE.

Narrative: A PVT JET WAS BEING STEPPED UP IN A CLB SWBOUND. IT WAS LEVELED AT FL310 FOR OTHER TFC. THE AIRLINER (MD80) WAS WBOUND, ON AIRWAY IN LEVEL FLT. WHEN THE CTLR WENT TO CLB THE LR55 FURTHER, THERE WAS A STUCK MIKE. THIS PREVENTED THE ACFT FROM RECEIVING THE XMISSION. THE CTLR TRIED TO DSND THE AIRLINER, BUT AGAIN THE STUCK MIKE PREVENTED THAT XMISSION ALSO. THE SUPVR WAS NOTIFIED, AND TRIED TO HAVE THE AIRLINE CONTACT THE MD80 SEPARATELY. THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE FREQ AND THE CTLR WAS ABLE TO CLB AND TURN THE LR55 AND DSND THE MD80, BUT NOT BEFORE SEPARATION HAD BEEN LOST. THE CLOSEST PROX WAS 1300 FT AND 4 MI. TO OFFER A SUGGESTION, THE AIRLINES HAVE THEIR OWN ACARS SYS TO EXCHANGE INFO WITH PLANES. ATC SHOULD HAVE AN ALTERNATE MESSAGING SYS TO ACFT, OR AT LEAST AIRLINES TO BE USED IN SUCH EMER SITS. PERHAPS THIS COULD BE A SHARED SYS FOR THE AIRLINES/ATC OR HAVE ATC BE ABLE TO USE THE ACARS ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT IN AN EMER MODE ONLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 539394: THERE SHOULD BE VISUAL AND AUDIO INDICATORS IN THE ACFT TO LET PLTS KNOW WHEN THEIR RADIOS ARE KEYED.

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.