SWA Asked To Look Over An Unresponsive GA Airplane

The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary reports on a situation in which a controller asked the captain of an airliner to check out an unresponsive GA airplane.

The SWA/Cirrus incident under investigation (OPS11IA428A) occurred on March 27th at 1702 EDT. Cirrus SR22 N1487C was a NORDO aircraft and had been NORDO with ZJX (Jacksonville Center) for more than an hour. The Domestic Events Network (DEN) was aware of the situation. F11 solicited the assistance of SWA821/B737 to attempt to verify the condition of the occupants of N1487C. SWA821 obliged their assistance and the F11 controller issued vectors to SWA821 toward N1487C. A separate radar scope was set up and single frequency was used by a Front Line Manager who provided control instructions to SWA821.

When SWA821 was approximately 5 miles from N1487C the SWA pilot reported N1487C on TCAS and visually. Visual separation was not applied by ATC. SWA821 was instructed to resume own navigation, get as close as safely possible and report any abnormalities. SWA821 maneuvered on his own along side of N1487C. The crew reported two occupants in the Cirrus and no apparent movement from them. SWA821 was then issued vectors away from N1487C to MCO (Orlando). Closest proximity was approximately 100 feet and 0.1 miles.

The preliminary report is subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov