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ZDC controller experienced operational error at FL350 when aircraft was issued climb clearance through occupied altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 693632 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200604 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zdc.artcc |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 35000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 170/175 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet 200 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar controller : non radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 1 controller radar : 1 controller time certified in position1 : 1 flight time total : 1 |
| ASRS Report | 693632 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 20000 vertical : 700 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
An E170 checked on sbound at FL340. Shortly thereafter; it requested FL380. I had 1 aircraft leaving my sector nwbound at FL350. I climbed the E170 to FL360; but amended its altitude to FL340 when it became apparent lateral separation was not going to work. I called traffic to the E170 and told it to be level in less than 1 min to ensure lateral separation. The pilot read back the clearance correctly; but continued to FL355; and separation was then lost. Contributing to this situation was the volume of traffic at that sector; and the poor frequencys there. I turned the E170 to an eastbound heading; but separation was still lost. Also; our facility currently uses 'mandatory' d-sides; which creates complacency and fatigues controllers; and creates an environment which can be overly distracting.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL350 WHEN ACFT WAS ISSUED CLB CLRNC THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT.
Narrative: AN E170 CHECKED ON SBOUND AT FL340. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; IT REQUESTED FL380. I HAD 1 ACFT LEAVING MY SECTOR NWBOUND AT FL350. I CLBED THE E170 TO FL360; BUT AMENDED ITS ALT TO FL340 WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT LATERAL SEPARATION WAS NOT GOING TO WORK. I CALLED TFC TO THE E170 AND TOLD IT TO BE LEVEL IN LESS THAN 1 MIN TO ENSURE LATERAL SEPARATION. THE PLT READ BACK THE CLRNC CORRECTLY; BUT CONTINUED TO FL355; AND SEPARATION WAS THEN LOST. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SITUATION WAS THE VOLUME OF TFC AT THAT SECTOR; AND THE POOR FREQS THERE. I TURNED THE E170 TO AN EBOUND HEADING; BUT SEPARATION WAS STILL LOST. ALSO; OUR FACILITY CURRENTLY USES 'MANDATORY' D-SIDES; WHICH CREATES COMPLACENCY AND FATIGUES CTLRS; AND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH CAN BE OVERLY DISTRACTING.
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.