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Operational error occurred when a ZME high altitude controller attempted to use lateral separation to descend a C560 through the altitude of a second C560 occupying FL310.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 623989 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200407 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : lit.vortac |
| State Reference | AR |
| Altitude | msl single value : 31500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Citation Excel |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Citation Excel |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 11 controller time certified in position1 : 11 |
| ASRS Report | 623989 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar / mode c other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | vertical : 1500 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
D21 approved aircraft X descending to FL310. When he advised me of this, I put a halo on aircraft Y, since he was opposite direction of aircraft X at FL330. Aircraft Y was southwest of aircraft X route. I did not point out the traffic to sector 20 because I felt like they might be tight but would remain laterally clear. Aircraft X began descending and the conflict alert went off. R20 asked me if I wanted him to do anything and I said, 'just switch him to me.' aircraft X checked on deviating left, which put him head on with aircraft Y. I did not know he was deviating until this time. Knowing that R20 also had traffic for the aircraft X at FL350 I felt my best course of action was to expedite the aircraft X below FL310. I did my best to encourage him to get down, and I got a report leaving FL310.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: OPERROR OCCURRED WHEN A ZME HIGH ALT CTLR ATTEMPTED TO USE LATERAL SEPARATION TO DSND A C560 THROUGH THE ALT OF A SECOND C560 OCCUPYING FL310.
Narrative: D21 APPROVED ACFT X DSNDING TO FL310. WHEN HE ADVISED ME OF THIS, I PUT A HALO ON ACFT Y, SINCE HE WAS OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ACFT X AT FL330. ACFT Y WAS SW OF ACFT X RTE. I DID NOT POINT OUT THE TFC TO SECTOR 20 BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEY MIGHT BE TIGHT BUT WOULD REMAIN LATERALLY CLR. ACFT X BEGAN DSNDING AND THE CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF. R20 ASKED ME IF I WANTED HIM TO DO ANYTHING AND I SAID, 'JUST SWITCH HIM TO ME.' ACFT X CHKED ON DEVIATING L, WHICH PUT HIM HEAD ON WITH ACFT Y. I DID NOT KNOW HE WAS DEVIATING UNTIL THIS TIME. KNOWING THAT R20 ALSO HAD TFC FOR THE ACFT X AT FL350 I FELT MY BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO EXPEDITE THE ACFT X BELOW FL310. I DID MY BEST TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO GET DOWN, AND I GOT A RPT LEAVING FL310.
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.