Mem TRACON controller described loss of terrain separation event; alleging WX and extended final as ...

Attributes
ACN	779178
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Weather Elements	Windshear Rain Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar controller : military
Experience	controller military : 6 controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	779178
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While working east final control; I was advised that all aircraft under my control needed to be at 2000 ft; due to the WX conditions above which were causing abnormal compression on the final. I complied with this. However; in the process; the final was abnormally long; and I unknowingly vectored several aircraft at 2000 ft into a 2300 ft MVA. No other controllers or supervisors in the room alerted me to the fact; and no equipment alerts activated. At least 2 other controllers; that I'm aware of; encountered a similar situation. The facility is investigating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM TRACON CTLR DESCRIBED LOSS OF TERRAIN SEPARATION EVENT; ALLEGING WX AND EXTENDED FINAL AS CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING E FINAL CTL; I WAS ADVISED THAT ALL ACFT UNDER MY CTL NEEDED TO BE AT 2000 FT; DUE TO THE WX CONDITIONS ABOVE WHICH WERE CAUSING ABNORMAL COMPRESSION ON THE FINAL. I COMPLIED WITH THIS. HOWEVER; IN THE PROCESS; THE FINAL WAS ABNORMALLY LONG; AND I UNKNOWINGLY VECTORED SEVERAL ACFT AT 2000 FT INTO A 2300 FT MVA. NO OTHER CTLRS OR SUPVRS IN THE ROOM ALERTED ME TO THE FACT; AND NO EQUIP ALERTS ACTIVATED. AT LEAST 2 OTHER CTLRS; THAT I'M AWARE OF; ENCOUNTERED A SIMILAR SITUATION. THE FACILITY IS INVESTIGATING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Mem TRACON controller described loss of terrain separation event; alleging WX and extended final as contributory factors.