ZDC controllers assign incorrect descent altitude, conflicting with another aircraft. Due to frequency congestion, the controllers were unable to amend the clearance in time to maintain legal separation.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	439111
Time
Date	199906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ood.vortac
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : descent
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
ASRS Report	439111
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 1100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft X was cleared to an altitude in error. The altitude went through the altitude of aircraft Y. We attempted to stop aircraft X to maintain 2000 ft separation but were unable due to frequency congestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLRS ASSIGN INCORRECT DSCNT ALT, CONFLICTING WITH ANOTHER ACFT. DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION, THE CTLRS WERE UNABLE TO AMEND THE CLRNC IN TIME TO MAINTAIN LEGAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: ACFT X WAS CLRED TO AN ALT IN ERROR. THE ALT WENT THROUGH THE ALT OF ACFT Y. WE ATTEMPTED TO STOP ACFT X TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT SEPARATION BUT WERE UNABLE DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION.

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.