# NTSB ATL88IA108: Boeing 737, N13331, Greensboro, NC, March 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1988, 12:11 local (17:11 UTC)
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Location: 36.0726° N, 79.7920° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greensboro, NC, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0726&lon=-79.7920&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 159 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA108

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Near collision between aircraft, maneuvering
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (cause)
  - radar separation - not maintained, atc personnel(artcc) (cause)
- Near collision between aircraft, maneuvering
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (cause)
  - radar separation - not maintained, atc personnel(artcc) (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

CONTINENTAL FLT 458 (BOEING 737, N13331) WAS FLYING NE AT FL370 AS CONTINENTAL FLT 703 (BOEING 737, N432PE) WAS FLYING FM THE OPPOSITE DRCTN AT FL350. BOTH FLTS WERE ON THE SAME FREQ, BEING CTLD BY ATLANTA ARTCC (SECTOR 47) CTLR, WHO HAD JUST COME ON DUTY. IN PREPARATION FOR HANDOFF TO SECTOR 33, FLT 458 WAS TOLD TO DSCND TO FL 350; FURTHER DSCNT OF FLT 458 WAS INTENDED AS SOON AS IT WAS CLR OF A 3RD ACFT AT FL330. THE RELIEVED SECTOR 47 CTLR HAD AGREED WITH THE SECTOR 33 CTLR THAT SECTOR 33 WOULD GIVE FLT 458 A VECTOR SO IT COULD BE FURTHER DSCNDD. BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION OF WHAT WAS TO BE DONE, THE SECTOR 47 CTLR HANDED OFF FLT 458 TO SECTOR 33. DRG THIS TIME FRAME, THE SECTOR 33 CTLR WAS ALSO RELIEVED & FLT 458 WAS NOT VECTORED FOR ABT 3 MIN. SEEING A POTENTIAL CONFLICT, THE CTLRS TURNED THEIR RESPECTIVE FLTS, BUT BOTH WERE TURNED TOWARD THE NW (FLT 458 TO THE LEFT & FLT 703 TO THE RGT). AS BOTH ACFT WERE TURNING, THEY CONTD TO CONVERGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CONFLICT ALERT SOUNDED & THE ACFT PASSED EACH OTHER AT THE SAME ALT WITH ABT .6 MI SEPN.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N13331 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25569
- Engines: GE CFM56 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines, doing business as Texas Int'L Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N432PE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19885
- Engines: P&W JT8D 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines, doing business as Texas Int'L Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: People Express Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: RSW, FORT MYERS, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N13331; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,200 total
- Pilot, aircraft N432PE; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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