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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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ZDC controller describes separation loss between 16000 ft and 17000 ft with converging and descending traffic. A pilot deviation was documented.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 673542 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : lyh.airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| 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 : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar controller : non radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 35 controller time certified in position1 : 30 |
| ASRS Report | 673547 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
The DH8 was landing at rdu cruising at FL200. I descended the aircraft to 17000 ft to start the arrival process. The BE40 was on a converging course at 16000 ft. The DH8 acknowledged the clearance to 17000 ft. When the 2 aircraft were about 9 mi apart; I called traffic to both of them. I gave the traffic to the DH8 first. As I was issuing the traffic to the BE40; I noticed the mode C of the DH8 going below 17000 ft. The BE40 called traffic in sight. I immediately cleared the DH8 to climb to and maintain 17000 ft. Separation was lost. There ensued a short discussion with the DH8 pilot claiming I issued 10000 ft and he read back 10000 ft. The pilot spoke with an accent; which I think contributed to the problem. He seemed to have a fairly good command of english; but I think language did contribute. Also; the DH8's radios weren't working very well. There was some distortion and breaking up when the DH8 transmitted; so I assume his receivers were doing the same.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR DESCRIBES SEPARATION LOSS BTWN 16000 FT AND 17000 FT WITH CONVERGING AND DSNDING TFC. A PLTDEV WAS DOCUMENTED.
Narrative: THE DH8 WAS LNDG AT RDU CRUISING AT FL200. I DSNDED THE ACFT TO 17000 FT TO START THE ARR PROCESS. THE BE40 WAS ON A CONVERGING COURSE AT 16000 FT. THE DH8 ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC TO 17000 FT. WHEN THE 2 ACFT WERE ABOUT 9 MI APART; I CALLED TFC TO BOTH OF THEM. I GAVE THE TFC TO THE DH8 FIRST. AS I WAS ISSUING THE TFC TO THE BE40; I NOTICED THE MODE C OF THE DH8 GOING BELOW 17000 FT. THE BE40 CALLED TFC IN SIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY CLRED THE DH8 TO CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 17000 FT. SEPARATION WAS LOST. THERE ENSUED A SHORT DISCUSSION WITH THE DH8 PLT CLAIMING I ISSUED 10000 FT AND HE READ BACK 10000 FT. THE PLT SPOKE WITH AN ACCENT; WHICH I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROB. HE SEEMED TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD COMMAND OF ENGLISH; BUT I THINK LANGUAGE DID CONTRIBUTE. ALSO; THE DH8'S RADIOS WEREN'T WORKING VERY WELL. THERE WAS SOME DISTORTION AND BREAKING UP WHEN THE DH8 XMITTED; SO I ASSUME HIS RECEIVERS WERE DOING THE SAME.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.