A ZDC ARTCC radar controller climbed an E145 first to 17000 ft then to FL200 through FL180, which was occupied by a BE30. Overlapping data tags prevented the controller from seeing the BE30 and resulted in a loss of separation.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	639257
Time
Date	200412
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ldn.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Super King Air 300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 34 controller time certified in position1 : 3 controller time certified in position2 : 6
ASRS Report	639257
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 18.5 controller time certified in position1 : 4
ASRS Report	639269
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 16200 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

An E145 was climbing to 17000 ft underneath a BE30 at FL180. The sector was extremely busy with multiple (10-15) departure aircraft climbing through a few overflts. There was also a turboprop descending, opposite direction, through the departures. This turboprop was a little less than fully cooperative and required multiple clrncs to get it through the sector. This diverted my attention so when the E145 checked in on the frequency, I climbed it to FL200. There were 2 or 3 data tags overlapped and I didn't realize the BE30 was right there at FL180. When I moved the data tags, I saw the situation and took corrective action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A ZDC ARTCC RADAR CTLR CLBED AN E145 FIRST TO 17000 FT THEN TO FL200 THROUGH FL180, WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY A BE30. OVERLAPPING DATA TAGS PREVENTED THE CTLR FROM SEEING THE BE30 AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF SEPARATION.

Narrative: AN E145 WAS CLBING TO 17000 FT UNDERNEATH A BE30 AT FL180. THE SECTOR WAS EXTREMELY BUSY WITH MULTIPLE (10-15) DEP ACFT CLBING THROUGH A FEW OVERFLTS. THERE WAS ALSO A TURBOPROP DSNDING, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THROUGH THE DEPS. THIS TURBOPROP WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN FULLY COOPERATIVE AND REQUIRED MULTIPLE CLRNCS TO GET IT THROUGH THE SECTOR. THIS DIVERTED MY ATTN SO WHEN THE E145 CHKED IN ON THE FREQ, I CLBED IT TO FL200. THERE WERE 2 OR 3 DATA TAGS OVERLAPPED AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THE BE30 WAS RIGHT THERE AT FL180. WHEN I MOVED THE DATA TAGS, I SAW THE SIT AND TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION.

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.