Incident Overview
Condor Flight 610, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 with German registration DADSO, was approximately two hours late as the flight crew prepared for takeoff. The flight was cleared for takeoff with instructions to cross the 5 DME point on the standard instrument departure (SID) at or above 3000 feet. The takeoff clearance was subsequently canceled but reissued about one minute later with the same restrictions.
At about that time, the flight was exactly two hours overdue, and the computer automatically dropped the flight plan data tag and block, as programmed to handle overdue or unused flight plans.
Post-Takeoff Events
After takeoff, Flight 610 contacted departure control. The controller noted only a primary transponder target and observed no altitude data. Meanwhile, a Piper PA-42, registration N900MP, was on an IFR arrival for a visual approach to Pal-Waukee Airport at 2800 feet.
Near Midair Collision
The two aircraft converged and passed with approximately 2 miles horizontal separation and 200 feet vertical separation.
Controller Error
Interviews with the controllers revealed they had intended Flight 610 to climb to 5000 feet as provided by the SID. The error was not noted after the data tag was dropped from the computer.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.