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ZDC controller experienced operational error at FL350 when descending wrong aircraft; thinking one call sign but issuing another.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 670478 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200506 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : gso.airport |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl single value : 35000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B717 (Formerly MD-95) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 17 controller time certified in position2 : 1 |
| ASRS Report | 670478 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 18600 vertical : 100 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
Had worked heavy traffic with WX deviations and holding for approximately 2 hours. Took a 10 min break. Came back combined all sectors. Volume picked up again. I had approximately 15 aircraft on frequency. I thought I descended air carrier X to FL250 but when air carrier Y checked on; I actually descended air carrier Y to FL250 thinking I was talking to air carrier X. Fatigue was the biggest factor due to my schedule of 3 nights; a day; back to the mid 8 hours later. Also; the abnormal volume and deviations of traffic on the shift with reduced staffing.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL350 WHEN DSNDING WRONG ACFT; THINKING ONE CALL SIGN BUT ISSUING ANOTHER.
Narrative: HAD WORKED HVY TFC WITH WX DEVS AND HOLDING FOR APPROX 2 HRS. TOOK A 10 MIN BREAK. CAME BACK COMBINED ALL SECTORS. VOLUME PICKED UP AGAIN. I HAD APPROX 15 ACFT ON FREQ. I THOUGHT I DSNDED ACR X TO FL250 BUT WHEN ACR Y CHKED ON; I ACTUALLY DSNDED ACR Y TO FL250 THINKING I WAS TALKING TO ACR X. FATIGUE WAS THE BIGGEST FACTOR DUE TO MY SCHEDULE OF 3 NIGHTS; A DAY; BACK TO THE MID 8 HRS LATER. ALSO; THE ABNORMAL VOLUME AND DEVS OF TFC ON THE SHIFT WITH REDUCED STAFFING.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.