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ZDC controller experienced operational error at FL330, descending wrong aircraft with similar call sign.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 615767 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200404 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : asbur |
| State Reference | WY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 12 |
| ASRS Report | 615767 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | controller military : 3 flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 22800 |
| ASRS Report | 615462 |
| 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 new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 12000 vertical : 1300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
I confused 2 similar call signs (abbc and abcc). I descended the wrong one in error and separation was lost with another aircraft as abcc descended. Supplemental information from acn 615462: ZDC controller cleared air carrier abcc from FL330 to FL290 to maintain 290 KTS. TA occurred passing FL320. Proceeded to climb back to original altitude. Controller gave air carrier abcc the descent in error. Descent was to be given to air carrier abbc.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL330, DSNDING WRONG ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN.
Narrative: I CONFUSED 2 SIMILAR CALL SIGNS (ABBC AND ABCC). I DSNDED THE WRONG ONE IN ERROR AND SEPARATION WAS LOST WITH ANOTHER ACFT AS ABCC DSNDED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 615462: ZDC CTLR CLRED ACR ABCC FROM FL330 TO FL290 TO MAINTAIN 290 KTS. TA OCCURRED PASSING FL320. PROCEEDED TO CLB BACK TO ORIGINAL ALT. CTLR GAVE ACR ABCC THE DSCNT IN ERROR. DSCNT WAS TO BE GIVEN TO ACR ABBC.
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.