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P50 handoff controller described near loss of separation when both he and approach controller failed to observe conflict at 8000 ft between air carrier and photo aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 699336 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200606 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : pxr.vortac |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : p50.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : p50.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival star : sunss.5 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : handoff position |
| Experience | controller radar : 15 |
| ASRS Report | 699336 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 18000 vertical : 200 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was working santan handoff; the radar assist position for the santan sector (south departure). At the above noted time; a B757; a departure; was cleared direct tfd VOR; above 30 NM sse of pxr. At PXR180007; the B757 was sbound climbing through 7800 ft for FL210. At approximately the same position was an A320; nwbound on the SUNSS5 arrival to phx. Neither I nor the radar controller saw the potential conflict. This was brought to our attention by the controller in charge about 5 mins after it happened. Potential causes for our distraction was the attention given to a photo flight between 15-25 mi east to southeast of pxr between 5000-5500 ft. Even though this aircraft was VFR; we are required to provide class B separation at that distance and altitude. I; as the handoff controller; was also involved with coordination with an adjacent satellite sector concerning another aircraft which was in potential conflict with the photo flight. I am certain all these factors contributed to my not observing the potential conflict between air carrier X and air carrier Y. My suggestion would be to restrict photo missions; which must enter class B airspace; to periods of light or no traffic.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: P50 HDOF CTLR DESCRIBED NEAR LOSS OF SEPARATION WHEN BOTH HE AND APCH CTLR FAILED TO OBSERVE CONFLICT AT 8000 FT BTWN ACR AND PHOTO ACFT.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING SANTAN HDOF; THE RADAR ASSIST POS FOR THE SANTAN SECTOR (S DEP). AT THE ABOVE NOTED TIME; A B757; A DEP; WAS CLRED DIRECT TFD VOR; ABOVE 30 NM SSE OF PXR. AT PXR180007; THE B757 WAS SBOUND CLBING THROUGH 7800 FT FOR FL210. AT APPROX THE SAME POS WAS AN A320; NWBOUND ON THE SUNSS5 ARR TO PHX. NEITHER I NOR THE RADAR CTLR SAW THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTN BY THE CIC ABOUT 5 MINS AFTER IT HAPPENED. POTENTIAL CAUSES FOR OUR DISTR WAS THE ATTN GIVEN TO A PHOTO FLT BTWN 15-25 MI E TO SE OF PXR BTWN 5000-5500 FT. EVEN THOUGH THIS ACFT WAS VFR; WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CLASS B SEPARATION AT THAT DISTANCE AND ALT. I; AS THE HDOF CTLR; WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH COORD WITH AN ADJACENT SATELLITE SECTOR CONCERNING ANOTHER ACFT WHICH WAS IN POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PHOTO FLT. I AM CERTAIN ALL THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO MY NOT OBSERVING THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT BTWN ACR X AND ACR Y. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO RESTRICT PHOTO MISSIONS; WHICH MUST ENTER CLASS B AIRSPACE; TO PERIODS OF LIGHT OR NO TFC.
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.