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ZDC controller experienced operational error at FL220 when failing to recognized a developing conflict; citing metering duties as distracting.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 759847 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200710 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : fak.vortac |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | BAe 125 Series 800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 18 |
| ASRS Report | 759847 |
| 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 flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 24360 vertical : 600 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
At the time of the operational error there were between 15-17 aircraft in the sector and on frequency. Metering was taking place to the dulles airport. Air carrier X was a dulles arrival heading toward the fak VOR descending to FL220. Aircraft X was an orf departure heading west on about 280 degree heading. Aircraft X was at FL220. While trying to meet the meter times for iad; I became distraction and allowed aircraft X to come too far wbound without climbing. When I noticed the impending situation I climbed aircraft X to FL230 and descended air carrier X to FL210; ending up with 4 mi and 600 ft separation. I believe the distraction of the confusing metering problem certainly was a factor in the error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL220 WHEN FAILING TO RECOGNIZED A DEVELOPING CONFLICT; CITING METERING DUTIES AS DISTRACTING.
Narrative: AT THE TIME OF THE OPERROR THERE WERE BTWN 15-17 ACFT IN THE SECTOR AND ON FREQ. METERING WAS TAKING PLACE TO THE DULLES ARPT. ACR X WAS A DULLES ARR HEADING TOWARD THE FAK VOR DSNDING TO FL220. ACFT X WAS AN ORF DEP HEADING W ON ABOUT 280 DEG HDG. ACFT X WAS AT FL220. WHILE TRYING TO MEET THE METER TIMES FOR IAD; I BECAME DISTR AND ALLOWED ACFT X TO COME TOO FAR WBOUND WITHOUT CLBING. WHEN I NOTICED THE IMPENDING SITUATION I CLBED ACFT X TO FL230 AND DSNDED ACR X TO FL210; ENDING UP WITH 4 MI AND 600 FT SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THE DISTR OF THE CONFUSING METERING PROB CERTAINLY WAS A FACTOR IN THE ERROR.
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.