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ASRS 1998428

ACN 1998428 · 2023-05 · Small Transport

SLC Tower Controller reported Aircraft X lost radio contact and deviated from clearance which resulted in an MVA alert and conflict with traffic.

Emergency Medical Service Incidents CruisePart 135DescentPart 121

Pilot narrative

Verbatim, de-identified by NASA. Placeholders: ZZZ, X, Y.

I was working local east and city. Aircraft X was inbound from the southwest. I observed them go through the final about 14 miles south of the airport. I called the Approach Controller and they indicated they had lost communication with the aircraft and were attempting to re-establish contact. Aircraft X then came up on my frequency about 15 miles southeast of the airport heading into rapidly rising terrain as well as a VFR aircraft outside the bravo airspace not receiving services. I issued Aircraft X a low altitude alert and traffic alert while climbing them and turning them away from the mountains. Aircraft X was able to get the unidentified aircraft in sight and maintain visual separation. I pointed out the airport, which Aircraft X then had in sight, and cleared them for a visual approach. Aircraft Y was on an approach to Runway XXL which Aircraft X was able to get in sight and maintain visual separation from. Aircraft X then landed with no further issue. Recommendation: Aircraft X told me they lost communication with Approach on 124.4 as they were descending through 8,000. 124.4 is a clearance delivery frequency for the TVY airport located 20 miles southwest of SLC with a large mountain between the two airports. I have no idea why Aircraft X was on that frequency but it appears Approach was either working several frequencies and wasn't aware Aircraft X was on that one or the Approach Controller thought that frequency had sufficient range. It is probably best practice to keep Clearance Delivery (CD) frequencies in a loud speaker if possible so you know if the aircraft is on a frequency intended for ground based communication, then take appropriate action.

NASA classification · Anomalies

  • Aircraft Equipment Problem
  • ATC Issue
  • Conflict
  • Deviation - Track / Heading
  • Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural
  • Inflight Event / Encounter

NASA classification · Assessments

Contributing Factors / Situations
Aircraft · Human Factors
Primary Problem
Aircraft

ASRS reports are voluntary, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective; they are not investigated and cannot be used to infer prevalence. Authoritative source: asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗