Computer system failed during peak traffic resulting in numerous incidents.

Attributes
ACN	125333
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	125333
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was working the arrival 2 position at dfw TRACON when we lost our computer unexpectedly. The result was a complete loss of 'critical data,' TRACON-wide. Traffic was at peak capacity. Controllers were relying on this data for sep. I witnessed 3 operrors, 3 system deviations and a slew of scared controllers. The 1303 program is inadequate and ill-suited for the intense traffic we run. The margin of safety is eroding steadily. I guess someone must die before the FAA will do something about this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED DURING PEAK TRAFFIC RESULTING IN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE ARR 2 POS AT DFW TRACON WHEN WE LOST OUR COMPUTER UNEXPECTEDLY. THE RESULT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF 'CRITICAL DATA,' TRACON-WIDE. TFC WAS AT PEAK CAPACITY. CTLRS WERE RELYING ON THIS DATA FOR SEP. I WITNESSED 3 OPERRORS, 3 SYS DEVIATIONS AND A SLEW OF SCARED CTLRS. THE 1303 PROGRAM IS INADEQUATE AND ILL-SUITED FOR THE INTENSE TFC WE RUN. THE MARGIN OF SAFETY IS ERODING STEADILY. I GUESS SOMEONE MUST DIE BEFORE THE FAA WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

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.