Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X was handed off to Feeder I from ZDV Sector 26 inbound to APA. Feeder I handed Aircraft X off to me and I took the hand off when Aircraft X was descending out of FL200 about 15 miles south south west of LARKS. I noticed a VFR target that was westbound at 175 and assumed that Aircraft X was descending to FL180. The confliction was going to occur inside ZDV Sector 26 airspace. When I observed Aircraft X continue to descend out of FL180 I ran over to the Feeder I position and asked if they were talking to Aircraft X. The controller responded yes; and I told the controller to issue a traffic alert to Aircraft X on the VFR at 175. Aircraft X told the Feeder I controller that if action wasn't taken; then they would have hit the VFR aircraft and they had to take evasive action to avoid the mid-air.ZDV Sector 26 should not have allowed Aircraft X to descend into the VFR traffic. They did not absolve all conflictions prior to switching communications.
Aircraft X was on arrival to APA; ZDV transferred communication to me well within their airspace. A VFR aircraft was wired perfectly with Aircraft X and ZDV did nothing about it just shipped him to me. Approximately 12 miles from my airspace boundary; I made a traffic alert call; and turned Aircraft X 20 degrees left. After they passed; I asked Aircraft X if the MODE C readout on the aircraft he had just passed was good. He stated that it was. He stated that they would have hit if I had not turned him. A coordinator for me called the ZDV sector to find out why he did not resolve all conflicts before transferring communications to D01; the Controller responded with 'I shipped him way back there.' So even though this happened way inside ZDV airspace; and he set me up with this conflict; he thinks he has no responsibility? His performance is beyond excusable. Make the ZDV do labs and classroom to learn basic air traffic rules like 'Resolve all conflicts before transferring communications.' Note the next report I will be submitting in just a minute; as this same controller plows through two sectors at D01 with an IFR aircraft and no point out to either of us.
Denver TRACON Controllers reported an NMAC with an IFR and VFR aircraft due to Center's lack of separation.