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ZBW controller experienced operational error at FL180 when inadvertently issuing an incorrect altitude to a climbing aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 682797 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200601 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bos.airport |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 18000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| 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 | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 24 controller time certified in position1 : 24 |
| ASRS Report | 682797 |
| 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 alert controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 25200 vertical : 400 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
I was working the bosox sector radar position at ZBW. There was no radar associate assigned. Air carrier X; an MD80; was landing at psm. Air carrier Y; an A320; departing boston. I intended to stop air carrier Y at 16000 ft; but went to work separating 2 aircraft landing on long island. The second aircraft in this string had increased speed and was rapidly catching up to the aircraft ahead. Also at this time a bdl departure was in conflict. After fixing this situation; I noticed air carrier Y climbing through 16700 ft; and expedited his climb. I had inadvertently issued FL230; which is the altitude most aircraft from boston are climbed to. The closest the 2 aircraft got were 4.2 mi and 2400 ft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZBW CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL180 WHEN INADVERTENTLY ISSUING AN INCORRECT ALT TO A CLBING ACFT.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE BOSOX SECTOR RADAR POS AT ZBW. THERE WAS NO RADAR ASSOCIATE ASSIGNED. ACR X; AN MD80; WAS LNDG AT PSM. ACR Y; AN A320; DEPARTING BOSTON. I INTENDED TO STOP ACR Y AT 16000 FT; BUT WENT TO WORK SEPARATING 2 ACFT LNDG ON LONG ISLAND. THE SECOND ACFT IN THIS STRING HAD INCREASED SPD AND WAS RAPIDLY CATCHING UP TO THE ACFT AHEAD. ALSO AT THIS TIME A BDL DEP WAS IN CONFLICT. AFTER FIXING THIS SITUATION; I NOTICED ACR Y CLBING THROUGH 16700 FT; AND EXPEDITED HIS CLB. I HAD INADVERTENTLY ISSUED FL230; WHICH IS THE ALT MOST ACFT FROM BOSTON ARE CLBED TO. THE CLOSEST THE 2 ACFT GOT WERE 4.2 MI AND 2400 FT.
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.