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ZOA controller experienced operational error at FL320 between aircraft climbing and arrival descending; failing to judge needed lateral distance between the two.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 759900 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200710 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : rbl.vortac |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 32000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zoa.artcc tower : pdk.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure sid : n/s |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zoa.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Learjet 35 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar controller : handoff position |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 1 controller time certified in position1 : 1 |
| ASRS Report | 759900 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | 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 |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 30000 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
I was working R31/R36 combined with 1 hour left in my shift. Air carrier X was climbing to FL300 at pilot's request. Aircraft Y was direct sjc descending to FL310 for traffic air carrier X. Air carrier X requested FL320 for turbulence. I issued the climb clearance to air carrier X; then initiated a vector on aircraft Y. I did not get a readback from aircraft Y. Furthermore; I was not aware that I had issued an incorrect vector of 15 degrees right to aircraft Y until they responded on their secondary radio after 3 more calls. I then took 2 pointouts from sector 32 and 43 as well. At that time I had made 2 calls to the aircraft Y with no response; and initiated a 40 degree left turn on air carrier X. Conflict alert activated and separation was lost. Separation was regained approximately 10 seconds later. I take full responsibility for my mistake in this situation. I should have vectored the air carrier X flight for climb prior to climb clearance. This is a technique I use every day. This was an uncharacteristic move on my part and I have learned to scan better when tired. I feel my personal fatigue caused my situation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZOA CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL320 BETWEEN ACFT CLIMBING AND ARR DESCENDING; FAILING TO JUDGE NEEDED LATERAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING R31/R36 COMBINED WITH 1 HR LEFT IN MY SHIFT. ACR X WAS CLBING TO FL300 AT PLT'S REQUEST. ACFT Y WAS DIRECT SJC DSNDING TO FL310 FOR TFC ACR X. ACR X REQUESTED FL320 FOR TURB. I ISSUED THE CLB CLRNC TO ACR X; THEN INITIATED A VECTOR ON ACFT Y. I DID NOT GET A READBACK FROM ACFT Y. FURTHERMORE; I WAS NOT AWARE THAT I HAD ISSUED AN INCORRECT VECTOR OF 15 DEGS R TO ACFT Y UNTIL THEY RESPONDED ON THEIR SECONDARY RADIO AFTER 3 MORE CALLS. I THEN TOOK 2 POINTOUTS FROM SECTOR 32 AND 43 AS WELL. AT THAT TIME I HAD MADE 2 CALLS TO THE ACFT Y WITH NO RESPONSE; AND INITIATED A 40 DEG L TURN ON ACR X. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AND SEPARATION WAS LOST. SEPARATION WAS REGAINED APPROX 10 SECONDS LATER. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY MISTAKE IN THIS SITUATION. I SHOULD HAVE VECTORED THE ACR X FLT FOR CLB PRIOR TO CLB CLRNC. THIS IS A TECHNIQUE I USE EVERY DAY. THIS WAS AN UNCHARACTERISTIC MOVE ON MY PART AND I HAVE LEARNED TO SCAN BETTER WHEN TIRED. I FEEL MY PERSONAL FATIGUE CAUSED MY SITUATION.
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.