Climbing large transport conflicted with opposite direction traffic.

Attributes
ACN	108206
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : flm
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 36100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	108206
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 1 controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	108203
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24600 vertical : 1100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I received the handoff from mystic low sector on air carrier X and the data block indicated that FL370 was assigned and the mode C indicated FL330. At XX32, I initiated handoff on mutual traffic opp direction, air carrier Y, to the mystic sector at FL350. I observed at the time of handoff on air carrier Y that air carrier X was still level at FL330 and I anticipated a call from the mystic sector to coordinate the climb of air carrier X. I then returned to pressing sep duties in my sector. Air carrier X called on frequency climbing to FL370. At this time I was busy separating traffic elsewhere in my sector and did not have time to call and get a release from the mystic sector. ZTL called and at the same time mystic released control of air carrier X. I checked my sep between other aircraft, issued some headings then returned to air carrier X and turned him to a heading of 090 degrees. Vertical and horizontal sep was lost approximately 2 mins later. At the time of handoff on air carrier X I assumed that since he was in close proximity of the boundary, the controller would call and appreq the climb in accordance with chapter 5 7110.65E--this was not the case.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLIMBING LGT CONFLICTED WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC.

Narrative: I RECEIVED THE HDOF FROM MYSTIC LOW SECTOR ON ACR X AND THE DATA BLOCK INDICATED THAT FL370 WAS ASSIGNED AND THE MODE C INDICATED FL330. AT XX32, I INITIATED HDOF ON MUTUAL TFC OPP DIRECTION, ACR Y, TO THE MYSTIC SECTOR AT FL350. I OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF HDOF ON ACR Y THAT ACR X WAS STILL LEVEL AT FL330 AND I ANTICIPATED A CALL FROM THE MYSTIC SECTOR TO COORDINATE THE CLB OF ACR X. I THEN RETURNED TO PRESSING SEP DUTIES IN MY SECTOR. ACR X CALLED ON FREQ CLBING TO FL370. AT THIS TIME I WAS BUSY SEPARATING TFC ELSEWHERE IN MY SECTOR AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CALL AND GET A RELEASE FROM THE MYSTIC SECTOR. ZTL CALLED AND AT THE SAME TIME MYSTIC RELEASED CTL OF ACR X. I CHKED MY SEP BTWN OTHER ACFT, ISSUED SOME HDGS THEN RETURNED TO ACR X AND TURNED HIM TO A HDG OF 090 DEGS. VERT AND HORIZ SEP WAS LOST APPROX 2 MINS LATER. AT THE TIME OF HDOF ON ACR X I ASSUMED THAT SINCE HE WAS IN CLOSE PROX OF THE BOUNDARY, THE CTLR WOULD CALL AND APPREQ THE CLB IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 5 7110.65E--THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.