Less than standard separation between air carrier X and MTR Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	118678
Time
Date	198908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : srp
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Trainer
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	118678
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was the only controller on abq ARTCC sector 37. I had a MTR in MOA atacc training area on the southeast side of phx. Thunderstorms were affecting the usable training airspace, as well as arrival traffic to phx. I received a pointout of air carrier X from an adjacent sector, which I approved descending to 16000' MSL (landing phx). At the time of the pointout the air carrier X was on an approximately 290 degree heading, deviating for WX. I had 2 MTR aircraft that were a factor for the air carrier X on the 290 degree heading. I moved the MTR aircraft out of the way (one to a training area north, and the other to a lower altitude). I then became busy on other matters (answering the landlines, computer entries). During my inattn to the radar the air carrier X turned to an approximately 250 degree heading, which brought him in conflict with a third MTR Y. Minimum sep was 2 NM and 400' vertical at FL180 and 17600'. I was subsequently removed from all control positions, following an investigation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN ACR X AND MTR Y. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS THE ONLY CTLR ON ABQ ARTCC SECTOR 37. I HAD A MTR IN MOA ATACC TRNING AREA ON THE SE SIDE OF PHX. TSTMS WERE AFFECTING THE USABLE TRNING AIRSPACE, AS WELL AS ARR TFC TO PHX. I RECEIVED A POINTOUT OF ACR X FROM AN ADJACENT SECTOR, WHICH I APPROVED DSNDING TO 16000' MSL (LNDG PHX). AT THE TIME OF THE POINTOUT THE ACR X WAS ON AN APPROX 290 DEG HDG, DEVIATING FOR WX. I HAD 2 MTR ACFT THAT WERE A FACTOR FOR THE ACR X ON THE 290 DEG HDG. I MOVED THE MTR ACFT OUT OF THE WAY (ONE TO A TRNING AREA N, AND THE OTHER TO A LOWER ALT). I THEN BECAME BUSY ON OTHER MATTERS (ANSWERING THE LANDLINES, COMPUTER ENTRIES). DURING MY INATTN TO THE RADAR THE ACR X TURNED TO AN APPROX 250 DEG HDG, WHICH BROUGHT HIM IN CONFLICT WITH A THIRD MTR Y. MINIMUM SEP WAS 2 NM AND 400' VERT AT FL180 AND 17600'. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED FROM ALL CTL POSITIONS, FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION.

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.