<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1028753, August 2012

Enroute controller described a loss of separation event claiming 'mental fatigue' was a contributing factor.

Attributes
ACN	1028753
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

Narrative:

I had descended the E145 to FL280 a few minutes later the conflict alert activated. I had assumed the E145 was inbound to ZZZ on the new arrival route that had just been implemented. However; the aircraft was moving to the south and head on with a B737 at FL290. Once I had realized the conflict alert was authentic; I told the E145 to expedite his descent and turned both aircraft 30 degrees right. At the same time; the B737 responded to a TCAS and climbed. As a result no text book definition of separation lost. I believe the cause of this situation is the prolonged levels time on position and of extensive workload; thence resulting in mental fatigue.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event claiming 'mental fatigue' was a contributing factor.

Narrative: I had descended the E145 to FL280 a few minutes later the Conflict Alert activated. I had assumed the E145 was inbound to ZZZ on the new arrival route that had just been implemented. However; the aircraft was moving to the south and head on with a B737 at FL290. Once I had realized the Conflict Alert was authentic; I told the E145 to expedite his descent and turned both aircraft 30 degrees right. At the same time; the B737 responded to a TCAS and climbed. As a result no text book definition of separation lost. I believe the cause of this situation is the prolonged levels time on position and of extensive workload; thence resulting in mental fatigue.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.