<< >> NASA ASRS Report 402643, May 1998

Controller at ZID descends an arriving FK10 to resolve a situation with a departing aircraft and overlooks a closer converging B737 in level flight.

Attributes
ACN	402643
Time
Date	199805
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxv
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 32100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 7 controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	402643
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 : unable other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 19200 vertical : 1100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I had just taken position at the sector about 4 mins prior to incident. The FK10 needed to descend into cincinnati. I noted traffic climbing to FL310, opposite direction, 12 O'clock position and 8 mi. Wishing to descend the FK10 below that traffic, I descended it to FL270, overlooking closer traffic at 11 O'clock position and 15 mi at FL310 (B737). FK10 descended through the altitude of B737 and separation was lost. When conflict alert activated, I tried to issue turns, but at that point it was too late. I think that perhaps if the person I had relieved had stayed plugged in a bit longer, he may have taken note of my actions and been able to point it out to me.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR AT ZID DSNDS AN ARRIVING FK10 TO RESOLVE A SIT WITH A DEPARTING ACFT AND OVERLOOKS A CLOSER CONVERGING B737 IN LEVEL FLT.

Narrative: I HAD JUST TAKEN POS AT THE SECTOR ABOUT 4 MINS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THE FK10 NEEDED TO DSND INTO CINCINNATI. I NOTED TFC CLBING TO FL310, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 8 MI. WISHING TO DSND THE FK10 BELOW THAT TFC, I DSNDED IT TO FL270, OVERLOOKING CLOSER TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK POS AND 15 MI AT FL310 (B737). FK10 DSNDED THROUGH THE ALT OF B737 AND SEPARATION WAS LOST. WHEN CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED, I TRIED TO ISSUE TURNS, BUT AT THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE. I THINK THAT PERHAPS IF THE PERSON I HAD RELIEVED HAD STAYED PLUGGED IN A BIT LONGER, HE MAY HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF MY ACTIONS AND BEEN ABLE TO POINT IT OUT TO ME.

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.