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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1424005 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201702 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | DVT.Tower |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Local |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4.5 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Local |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3.2 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
I was being relieved on local south by another controller. This incident occurred while I was in the 2 minute position relief overlap. I witnessed the supervisor observing the situation. The local north controller had about 5 aircraft in their pattern which is normal traffic for our facility. Aircraft X was inbound from the northwest on a left base for runway 7L. There was an aircraft on the final for runway 7L. Both of these aircraft were talking to the local north controller. Aircraft Y was making an approach for runway 7R on local south's frequency. Aircraft X was on left base and about 3/4 NM from final. The local north controller told them to follow the aircraft that was on final for runway 7L. The controller then told aircraft X something along the lines of 'make an south turn to the right to join final' in order to follow the aircraft. Aircraft X complied however was too close to final so when they turned west in order to follow the aircraft they were about ¼ NM north of the runway 7L finals. The pilot then made a left 180 degree turn to join the finals but because they were so close they overshot through finals. Just before this I had advised the controller who was now working local south to watch aircraft X as he was going to overshoot the finals. This controller advised aircraft Y; who was on final for runway 7R; about the traffic. Right after the controller told the pilot; aircraft Y did not respond but was observed making a sharp right turn to avoid aircraft X. Aircraft Y responded after about 2 traffic calls with something along the lines of 'that was too close'. This event was caused by a local north controller with poor skills. Any other controller at the facility would have done the right thing and sent aircraft X around. The aircraft was too close to final to maneuver to make the spacing work. Because of this controller's lack of skills; they did not make sure they had correct spacing with aircraft X on base with the aircraft on final and chose a dangerous maneuver which put people's lives in danger. No airspace/procedure changes would have stopped this situation from occurring. The controller is only certified on local north; ground and flight data/clearance delivery. After observing this situation and multiple others; my recommendation is to terminate their training at our facility. This; along with their training; has proven they do not have the skills to work at our facility.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DVT Tower controllers observed a partially certified Controller lose situational awareness and issue instructions to an aircraft which placed it into confliction with several other aircraft in the airport traffic pattern.
Narrative: I was being relieved on Local South by another controller. This incident occurred while I was in the 2 minute position relief overlap. I witnessed the Supervisor observing the situation. The Local North controller had about 5 aircraft in their pattern which is normal traffic for our facility. Aircraft X was inbound from the northwest on a left base for runway 7L. There was an aircraft on the final for runway 7L. Both of these aircraft were talking to the Local North controller. Aircraft Y was making an approach for runway 7R on Local South's frequency. Aircraft X was on left base and about 3/4 NM from final. The Local North Controller told them to follow the aircraft that was on final for runway 7L. The controller then told Aircraft X something along the lines of 'make an S turn to the right to join final' in order to follow the aircraft. Aircraft X complied however was too close to final so when they turned west in order to follow the aircraft they were about ¼ NM north of the Runway 7L finals. The pilot then made a left 180 degree turn to join the finals but because they were so close they overshot through finals. Just before this I had advised the controller who was now working Local South to watch Aircraft X as he was going to overshoot the finals. This controller advised Aircraft Y; who was on final for runway 7R; about the traffic. Right after the controller told the pilot; Aircraft Y did not respond but was observed making a sharp right turn to avoid Aircraft X. Aircraft Y responded after about 2 traffic calls with something along the lines of 'that was too close'. This event was caused by a Local North controller with poor skills. Any other controller at the facility would have done the right thing and sent Aircraft X around. The aircraft was too close to final to maneuver to make the spacing work. Because of this controller's lack of skills; they did not make sure they had correct spacing with Aircraft X on base with the aircraft on final and chose a dangerous maneuver which put people's lives in danger. No airspace/procedure changes would have stopped this situation from occurring. The controller is only certified on Local North; Ground and Flight Data/Clearance Delivery. After observing this situation and multiple others; my recommendation is to terminate their training at our facility. This; along with their training; has proven they do not have the skills to work at our facility.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.