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Radar controller experienced operational error at FL200 when issuing descent to wrong aircraft and failing to note readback; WX deviation vectors were in use.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 807900 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200809 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : rwf.vor |
| State Reference | MN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | Thunderstorm |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 18 controller time certified in position1 : 13 |
| ASRS Report | 807900 |
| 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 flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 24000 vertical : 400 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
First aircraft was deviating for WX descending to FL210. The second aircraft was on a 080 degree vector originally 10 mi in trail. I inadvertently issued descent to the second aircraft to FL200 instead of FL240 -- the call sign was aircraft X. The pilot read back FL200 but I didn't catch it. When the second aircraft descended through FL240; I climbed them back up to FL240; issued traffic and then issued a right turn to heading 160 des. The first aircraft was turned left to heading 030 degrees. The conflict alert activated as I was issuing the turns.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RADAR CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL200 WHEN ISSUING DESCENT TO WRONG ACFT AND FAILING TO NOTE READBACK; WX DEV VECTORS WERE IN USE.
Narrative: FIRST ACFT WAS DEVIATING FOR WX DSNDING TO FL210. THE SECOND ACFT WAS ON A 080 DEG VECTOR ORIGINALLY 10 MI IN TRAIL. I INADVERTENTLY ISSUED DSCNT TO THE SECOND ACFT TO FL200 INSTEAD OF FL240 -- THE CALL SIGN WAS ACFT X. THE PLT READ BACK FL200 BUT I DIDN'T CATCH IT. WHEN THE SECOND ACFT DSNDED THROUGH FL240; I CLBED THEM BACK UP TO FL240; ISSUED TFC AND THEN ISSUED A R TURN TO HDG 160 DES. THE FIRST ACFT WAS TURNED L TO HDG 030 DEGS. THE CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AS I WAS ISSUING THE TURNS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.