ZFW controller experienced TCAS RA with dfw air carrier arrival and parachute jump aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	587881
Time
Date	200212
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : byp.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119 other : 105
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 26 controller supervisory : 4
ASRS Report	587881
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : zfw.artcc

Narrative:

Sector saturation, numerous traffic alert sits, and frequency congestion. Issued B757 direct covie, which clears jump area. Did not recall switching B757 to approach. Ca activated on C208 jump aircraft outside of area returning to drop parajumpers at 14500 ft. Issued turn to avoid B757 not on frequency, then advised C208 of traffic and advised to make a hard left turn and return to area. C208 did turn hard and avoided B757 by 2 1/2 to 3 mi. B757's TCAS must have activated, because he climbed. Took over sector with 3 no active jump aircraft, then got busy and did not have chance to change 15-20 arrs to alternate STAR to avoid jump area. Jump area on main arrival fix is unsafe. Arrival must be changed or alternate arrival must be mandated when jump activity pre-call comes in. This situation has been on-going and will eventually lead to a major accident if not addressed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZFW CTLR EXPERIENCED TCAS RA WITH DFW ACR ARR AND PARACHUTE JUMP ACFT.

Narrative: SECTOR SATURATION, NUMEROUS TFC ALERT SITS, AND FREQ CONGESTION. ISSUED B757 DIRECT COVIE, WHICH CLRS JUMP AREA. DID NOT RECALL SWITCHING B757 TO APCH. CA ACTIVATED ON C208 JUMP ACFT OUTSIDE OF AREA RETURNING TO DROP PARAJUMPERS AT 14500 FT. ISSUED TURN TO AVOID B757 NOT ON FREQ, THEN ADVISED C208 OF TFC AND ADVISED TO MAKE A HARD L TURN AND RETURN TO AREA. C208 DID TURN HARD AND AVOIDED B757 BY 2 1/2 TO 3 MI. B757'S TCAS MUST HAVE ACTIVATED, BECAUSE HE CLBED. TOOK OVER SECTOR WITH 3 NO ACTIVE JUMP ACFT, THEN GOT BUSY AND DID NOT HAVE CHANCE TO CHANGE 15-20 ARRS TO ALTERNATE STAR TO AVOID JUMP AREA. JUMP AREA ON MAIN ARR FIX IS UNSAFE. ARR MUST BE CHANGED OR ALTERNATE ARR MUST BE MANDATED WHEN JUMP ACTIVITY PRE-CALL COMES IN. THIS SIT HAS BEEN ON-GOING AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF NOT ADDRESSED.

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.