Between 8:15 and 8:21 a.m., eastern standard time, on October 7, 1980, under clear skies with 15-mile visibility, a chain of events occurred in which several aircraft, operating under the direction of air traffic control in the vicinity of the Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, were inadvertently placed in positions which infringed upon normal separation standards. Five aircraft were involved, some in repetitive conflict situations. In at least two encounters, the pilots of air carrier aircraft found it necessary to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The pilot of one aircraft increased power so quickly that the maximum exhaust gas temperature limits of all three of the aircraft's engines were exceeded. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation reconstructed the events and reviewed the air traffic control procedures involved. Based on its investigation, the Safety Board concludes that similar circumstances could arise at any approach facility where the procedures and radar control equipment are similar to those at the Atlanta facility. This report discusses these circumstances, emphasizing those areas which need attention, and describes a unique investigative technique involving the reduction and analysis of data extracted from an air traffic control radar system computer, which should prove useful in future investigations involving air traffic control issues.
Special Investigation Report: Aircraft Separation Incidents at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, October 7, 1980
1981
80 pages
Report
No indication
English
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
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