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ZDC handoff controller experienced operational error at FL240 because of coordination failure with the radar controller.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 622406 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200406 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : acy.airport |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 23700 msl bound upper : 24000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Learjet 55 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 318 (T-37) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : handoff position |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller military : 5 controller radar : 18 |
| ASRS Report | 622406 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 13800 vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error Inter Facility Coordination Failure |
Narrative:
I was paged back from my break to assist another controller at the sector 59 position at ZDC. Upon arrival and with little to no briefing, assumed the d-side position. Sector appeared to be out of control. Heavy WX had impacted the entire east coast. Most or all traffic was being rerouted through this sector. Flow control was useless, and rtes were not being addressed. The T37 was handed off to our sector. The radar controller climbed the T37 to FL200 and aircraft was handed off to new york radar controller then had LJ55 off course by about 50 mi and descended LJ55 to FL240 unknowingly to me. New york sector called and asked to climb T37 to FL250 which re-entered our sector. I approved this, not knowing the LJ55 was descending to FL240. Last time I saw LJ55 was at FL350. I did not see either aircraft being a factor, and did not advise radar controller of the T37's climb. Miscom on both myself and radar controller. Sector was beyond capacity and flow control problems all played a part in this mishap.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC HDOF CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL240 BECAUSE OF COORD FAILURE WITH THE RADAR CTLR.
Narrative: I WAS PAGED BACK FROM MY BREAK TO ASSIST ANOTHER CTLR AT THE SECTOR 59 POS AT ZDC. UPON ARR AND WITH LITTLE TO NO BRIEFING, ASSUMED THE D-SIDE POS. SECTOR APPEARED TO BE OUT OF CTL. HVY WX HAD IMPACTED THE ENTIRE EAST COAST. MOST OR ALL TFC WAS BEING REROUTED THROUGH THIS SECTOR. FLOW CTL WAS USELESS, AND RTES WERE NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THE T37 WAS HANDED OFF TO OUR SECTOR. THE RADAR CTLR CLBED THE T37 TO FL200 AND ACFT WAS HANDED OFF TO NEW YORK RADAR CTLR THEN HAD LJ55 OFF COURSE BY ABOUT 50 MI AND DSNDED LJ55 TO FL240 UNKNOWINGLY TO ME. NEW YORK SECTOR CALLED AND ASKED TO CLB T37 TO FL250 WHICH RE-ENTERED OUR SECTOR. I APPROVED THIS, NOT KNOWING THE LJ55 WAS DSNDING TO FL240. LAST TIME I SAW LJ55 WAS AT FL350. I DID NOT SEE EITHER ACFT BEING A FACTOR, AND DID NOT ADVISE RADAR CTLR OF THE T37'S CLB. MISCOM ON BOTH MYSELF AND RADAR CTLR. SECTOR WAS BEYOND CAPACITY AND FLOW CTL PROBS ALL PLAYED A PART IN THIS MISHAP.
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.