Date: 201606
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: TUL.TRACON, OK
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Second aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach; Departure
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Time Pressure
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Person / Animal / Bird; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: Tulsa was in a south flow; and Radar South West was split off from Radar West. I was working Radar West. I had a mix of inbounds to TUL; outbounds from TUL; and a parachute jump aircraft operating over Skiatook airport. Aircraft X departed TUL VFR on a west heading. After I got him clear of an Aircraft Y descending for TUL; I gave Aircraft X on course to BVO. At about that time; Aircraft Z advised 1 minute prior to jump at Skiatook. I made an announcement on frequency; and gave Aircraft X a 330 heading to vector him to the west of Skiatook to avoid the parachute activity. I also told Aircraft Z about Aircraft X and advised him that he would pass to the west of Skiatook. A couple of minutes later; when Aircraft X was about 1-2 miles southwest of Skiatook; he advised he wanted to return to TUL. I turned him to a 100 heading in an attempt to keep him south of the Skiatook airport and away from any parachute jumpers. I gave a traffic advisory to Aircraft Z advising him of the aircraft's position and I told him he would be passing about a mile south of Skiatook. As Aircraft X was in the process of the turn he advised me that he was making a hard right turn to avoid a parachute. I let him make his turn and as he got away from Skiatook; I gave him a right base entry to 18R and switched him to tower. As Aircraft X exited the runway; he advised tower that it was the closest he has come to parachute jumping. This event was caused by me trying to get Aircraft X back to the airport as soon as possible. When he advised he wanted to return to TUL; I was assuming that he had an issue with the aircraft or that he needed to get back as soon as possible. In my attempt to get Aircraft X back to the airport quickly I turned him to a heading that was not southeast enough to keep him from going through the parachute activity. I think the local procedures involving parachute jumping are fine. This event was caused by me trying to get Aircraft X back to the airport as soon as possible. I had a couple other options that would have worked much better than turning him toward the parachute activity. Had I taken a moment to just think about the situation more I would have either taken Aircraft X north of Skiatook before turning him east or I would have given him a left turn to the south to get him away from the airport before turning him back toward TUL.




Synopsis: Tulsa Radar Controller reported of an unsafe situation when he turned an aircraft too soon and did not avoid a parachute operation. Pilot reported after landing that it was; 'the closest he has come to parachute jumping.'