<< >> NASA ASRS Report 558308, August 2002

Approach controller issued incorrect altitude to an inbound flight resulting in a conflict between a flight of 2 T45 jet trainers and a BE40.

Attributes
ACN	558308
Time
Date	200208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nmm.airport
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nmm.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Trainer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nmm.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 20 controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 16 controller supervisory : 6 controller time certified in position1 : 9
ASRS Report	558308
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 8000 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft X, flight of 2, was on vector 140 degrees inbound to nmm for the overhead. Aircraft Y, BE40, was on vector 220 degrees for ILS at mei. Aircraft X was in descent to 3000 ft. I thought he was very slow descending and realized aircraft Y may become a conflict. I intended to issue aircraft X 5000 ft but after listening to tape I did assign 4000 ft. I saw aircraft X at 4700 ft and told him to check altitude and maintain 5000 ft. At closest point I called traffic 10 O'clock position, 1 1/2 mi. BE40 on 220 degree heading, T45's on 140 degree heading. I may or may not have lost separation, courses may have diverged prior to altitude loss. I did issue wrong altitude. This was a mistake on my part. Aircraft X was issued multiple traffic calls with his traffic at 4000 ft. I am not a pilot but if assigned 4000 ft and issued several traffic calls of traffic at 4000 ft I believe I would question what altitude I was assigned. Mistakes are often made on both sides. We all need to exchange information and questions more freely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR ISSUED INCORRECT ALT TO AN INBOUND FLT RESULTING IN A CONFLICT BTWN A FLT OF 2 T45 JET TRAINERS AND A BE40.

Narrative: ACFT X, FLT OF 2, WAS ON VECTOR 140 DEGS INBOUND TO NMM FOR THE OVERHEAD. ACFT Y, BE40, WAS ON VECTOR 220 DEGS FOR ILS AT MEI. ACFT X WAS IN DSCNT TO 3000 FT. I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY SLOW DSNDING AND REALIZED ACFT Y MAY BECOME A CONFLICT. I INTENDED TO ISSUE ACFT X 5000 FT BUT AFTER LISTENING TO TAPE I DID ASSIGN 4000 FT. I SAW ACFT X AT 4700 FT AND TOLD HIM TO CHK ALT AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT. AT CLOSEST POINT I CALLED TFC 10 O'CLOCK POS, 1 1/2 MI. BE40 ON 220 DEG HDG, T45'S ON 140 DEG HDG. I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE LOST SEPARATION, COURSES MAY HAVE DIVERGED PRIOR TO ALT LOSS. I DID ISSUE WRONG ALT. THIS WAS A MISTAKE ON MY PART. ACFT X WAS ISSUED MULTIPLE TFC CALLS WITH HIS TFC AT 4000 FT. I AM NOT A PLT BUT IF ASSIGNED 4000 FT AND ISSUED SEVERAL TFC CALLS OF TFC AT 4000 FT I BELIEVE I WOULD QUESTION WHAT ALT I WAS ASSIGNED. MISTAKES ARE OFTEN MADE ON BOTH SIDES. WE ALL NEED TO EXCHANGE INFO AND QUESTIONS MORE FREELY.

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.