<< >> NASA ASRS Report 161775, November 1990

Opposite direction traffic was descending to FL310 and passed another aircraft at FL330 with less than standard separation.

Attributes
ACN	161775
Time
Date	199011
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cap
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31500 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	161775
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Medium large transport sebnd at FL330 north of cap VOR and the light transport south of cap VOR northbound descending to FL310. With radar the problem was discovered. The light transport was turned 20 degrees to the left and expedited his descent. No evasive action was required by either pilot. The situation occurred because the light transport was not turned to the left enough to avoid the operational error. To prevent a recurrence the aircraft will be turned earlier and more degrees to avoid the loss of sep.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC WAS DESCENDING TO FL310 AND PASSED ANOTHER ACFT AT FL330 WITH LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: MLG SEBND AT FL330 N OF CAP VOR AND THE LTT S OF CAP VOR NBND DSNDING TO FL310. WITH RADAR THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED. THE LTT WAS TURNED 20 DEGS TO THE LEFT AND EXPEDITED HIS DSNT. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED BY EITHER PLT. THE SITUATION OCCURRED BECAUSE THE LTT WAS NOT TURNED TO THE LEFT ENOUGH TO AVOID THE OPERROR. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE THE ACFT WILL BE TURNED EARLIER AND MORE DEGREES TO AVOID THE LOSS OF SEP.

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