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N90 controller observes air carrier mode C displayed in a descending mode. Calling isp tower, tower confirms aircraft is climbing on assigned track. Pilot acknowledges equipment error.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 459430 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200001 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : isp.airport |
| State Reference | NY |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90.tracon |
| 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 | climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | departure : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Experience | controller limited radar : 1 controller radar : 5 |
| ASRS Report | 459430 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft ATC Facility |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Air carrier X, MD80, departed runway 24. Aircraft radar idented on departure and issued climb to 4000 ft and left turn heading 150 degrees. Pilot acknowledged. Approximately 1 min later, aircraft appeared to be on runway heading, low altitude alert went off. Aircraft approximately 2-3 mi off runway departure end, altitude indicated 008. I issued low altitude alert, checked altitude immediately -- altimeter 30.19. No acknowledgement received. Altitude indicated 006. Called tower on landing. I watched altitude descend, then the data tag dropped off. When tower picked up landline, aircraft was indicating 002. As I tried to ascertain if air carrier X could be seen by tower, air carrier X data block was in my coast suspend list. I thought the plane went down. Tower advised air carrier X was climbing sebound. I called air carrier X again. He replied and apologized for transponder.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: N90 CTLR OBSERVES ACR MODE C DISPLAYED IN A DSNDING MODE. CALLING ISP TWR, TWR CONFIRMS ACFT IS CLBING ON ASSIGNED TRACK. PLT ACKNOWLEDGES EQUIP ERROR.
Narrative: ACR X, MD80, DEPARTED RWY 24. ACFT RADAR IDENTED ON DEP AND ISSUED CLB TO 4000 FT AND L TURN HDG 150 DEGS. PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. APPROX 1 MIN LATER, ACFT APPEARED TO BE ON RWY HDG, LOW ALT ALERT WENT OFF. ACFT APPROX 2-3 MI OFF RWY DEP END, ALT INDICATED 008. I ISSUED LOW ALT ALERT, CHKED ALT IMMEDIATELY -- ALTIMETER 30.19. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIVED. ALT INDICATED 006. CALLED TWR ON LNDG. I WATCHED ALT DSND, THEN THE DATA TAG DROPPED OFF. WHEN TWR PICKED UP LANDLINE, ACFT WAS INDICATING 002. AS I TRIED TO ASCERTAIN IF ACR X COULD BE SEEN BY TWR, ACR X DATA BLOCK WAS IN MY COAST SUSPEND LIST. I THOUGHT THE PLANE WENT DOWN. TWR ADVISED ACR X WAS CLBING SEBOUND. I CALLED ACR X AGAIN. HE REPLIED AND APOLOGIZED FOR XPONDER.
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.