Summary
On 28 May 2021, an incident occurred southeast of the Barcelona TMA Area 1 involving a Boeing 737-800W aircraft, registration PH-BXF, operated by KLM, and a Tecnam P2006T aircraft, registration EC-MNG, operated by the European Aviation School of Barcelona. The Boeing was on a scheduled international passenger flight from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (LEBL) to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (EHAM) with 6 crew and 82 passengers. The Tecnam was on an instruction flight from Sabadell Airport (LELL) to Castellón Airport (LECH) with 2 crew members (instructor and student pilot). Both aircraft were operating under IFR.
Aircraft Information
The Boeing 737-800W (PH-BXF) was climbing through 8,640 ft to flight level FL190 following the standard instrument departure OKABI THREE QUEBEC (OKABI3Q). The Tecnam P2006T (EC-MNG) was maintaining FL090, having flown over the BCN DVOR/DME and proceeding to the RODRA waypoint.
Sequence of Events
At the time of the incident, the Boeing was in contact with the LEBLT14W sector controller, and the Tecnam was in contact with the LEBLT23FW sector controller. The aircraft were on different frequencies. The controllers did not give instructions to reduce the risk of AIRPROX. The Boeing's TCAS system issued a resolution advisory (RA), prompting the crew to stop climbing and descend. The separation at the moment of the TCAS RA was 1.52 NM and 350 ft.
Findings
The investigation found that the LEBLT14W controller had transferred the Tecnam to the LEBLT23FW sector 9 minutes before the incident and did not anticipate a conflict. The LEBLT23FW controller, focused on the final sector, did not anticipate that the Tecnam would conflict with the departing Boeing.
Cause
The cause of the incident was a loss of situational awareness on the part of the LEBLT23FW sector controller.