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Radar coordinator incorrectly assigns a turn direction to a xferring controller at another ARTCC which places 2 aircraft into confliction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 438495 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | KS |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 39 agl bound upper : 35000 agl single value : 28 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | L-1011 Tri-Star All Series |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | oversight : coordinator |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 15 |
| ASRS Report | 438495 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 1800 vertical : 3000 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Inter Facility Coordination Failure Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error |
Narrative:
L1011 (aircraft X) was nwbound at FL350 and MD80 (aircraft Y) was swbound at FL350. I was working as a monitor/tracker for sector 27, high altitude at ZKC. I was unaware that the radar controller had issued the swbound MD80 a left turn to avoid the L1011. Radar controller instructed me to have ZME turn the aircraft. Radar controller said a left turn. I didn't hear that and instructed ZME to turn aircraft right. The result was an operational error. I believe the problem could have been avoided. We (the radar controller, d-side and myself) were busy. This error occurred near the common boundaries of ZME and 2 ZKC high altitude sectors. I think that if awareness by other controller working the airplanes had been better, this operational error wouldn't have happened. Also, I think that had I been positioned in front of the radar controller and seated in front of their radar console (as is normally done) I would have heard the radar controller's original request to turn the L1011 left. Instead, the radar controller was seated facing the radar scope and I was standing behind him. Supplemental information from acn 438887: I obtained a control for descent with ZKC sector 28 on the MD80. Then I completed a pointout on the MD80 to ZME (razorback high).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RADAR COORDINATOR INCORRECTLY ASSIGNS A TURN DIRECTION TO A XFERRING CTLR AT ANOTHER ARTCC WHICH PLACES 2 ACFT INTO CONFLICTION.
Narrative: L1011 (ACFT X) WAS NWBOUND AT FL350 AND MD80 (ACFT Y) WAS SWBOUND AT FL350. I WAS WORKING AS A MONITOR/TRACKER FOR SECTOR 27, HIGH ALT AT ZKC. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE RADAR CTLR HAD ISSUED THE SWBOUND MD80 A L TURN TO AVOID THE L1011. RADAR CTLR INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE ZME TURN THE ACFT. RADAR CTLR SAID A L TURN. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT AND INSTRUCTED ZME TO TURN ACFT R. THE RESULT WAS AN OPERROR. I BELIEVE THE PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. WE (THE RADAR CTLR, D-SIDE AND MYSELF) WERE BUSY. THIS ERROR OCCURRED NEAR THE COMMON BOUNDARIES OF ZME AND 2 ZKC HIGH ALT SECTORS. I THINK THAT IF AWARENESS BY OTHER CTLR WORKING THE AIRPLANES HAD BEEN BETTER, THIS OPERROR WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. ALSO, I THINK THAT HAD I BEEN POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE RADAR CTLR AND SEATED IN FRONT OF THEIR RADAR CONSOLE (AS IS NORMALLY DONE) I WOULD HAVE HEARD THE RADAR CTLR'S ORIGINAL REQUEST TO TURN THE L1011 L. INSTEAD, THE RADAR CTLR WAS SEATED FACING THE RADAR SCOPE AND I WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 438887: I OBTAINED A CTL FOR DSCNT WITH ZKC SECTOR 28 ON THE MD80. THEN I COMPLETED A POINTOUT ON THE MD80 TO ZME (RAZORBACK HIGH).
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.