A-90-160
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: BRIEF ALL RADAR CONTROLLERS AND TRAINEES ON THE CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE DEFICIENCIES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION BETWEEN NASA 920 AND PAN AMERICAN 140, FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF PROPER OPERATING PROCEDURES. BRIEFING SHOULD INCLUDE (1) THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF A CONTROLLER ACCEPTING A HANDOFF WITHOUT DETERMINING FROM EITHER THE FLIGHT STRIP OR DATA TAG THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT INVOLVED; (2) THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF A CONTROLLER RESPONDING IMPROPERLY TO A CONFLICT ALERT WARNING BY ATTEMPTING TO CANCEL THE ALERT RATHER THAN SOLVING THE PROBLEM; AND (3) THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF A CONTROLLER FAILING TO ISSUE TRAFFIC TO MERGING FLIGHTS THAT ARE FLYING IN KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The Federal Aviation Administration is asked by the NTSB to brief all radar controllers and trainees on the controller performance deficiencies that occurred during a near midair collision between NASA 920 and Pan American 140, followed by a discussion of proper operating procedures. The briefing must cover the potential effects of three specific failures: accepting a handoff without determining the aircraft type; improperly responding to a conflict alert warning by attempting to cancel it rather than solving the problem; and failing to issue traffic to merging flights flying in known instrument meteorological conditions.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Acceptable Action |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Apr 16, 1993 |
| NTSB number | DCA89IA036 |
| Addressees | FAA |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).