Aircraft unknowingly dropped chaff while cruising at FL230.

Attributes
ACN	104992
Time
Date	198902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : swl
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	104992
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Unknowingly dispensed chaff while flying on an arwy. Advised by ZDC that we had been trailing chaff for last 50 NM. Chaff system was not on. Aircraft being checked for possible malfunction, and/or possible procedure problem in loading chaff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT UNKNOWINGLY DROPPED CHAFF WHILE CRUISING AT FL230.

Narrative: UNKNOWINGLY DISPENSED CHAFF WHILE FLYING ON AN ARWY. ADVISED BY ZDC THAT WE HAD BEEN TRAILING CHAFF FOR LAST 50 NM. CHAFF SYS WAS NOT ON. ACFT BEING CHKED FOR POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PROC PROB IN LOADING CHAFF.

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