Less than standard separation between cpr X and Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	126976
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bum
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 39000 msl bound upper : 41000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
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
ASRS Report	126976
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
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	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	vertical : 1400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

After going thru a period of heavy traffic, most of the aircraft were leaving the sector. Cpr X checked on at FL390 (mkc-act-aus). Cpr X from lax-cim stl ilg was 25 mi northwest of bum at FL410. Cpr X was handed off and shipped to sector 30. 30 northwest of bum, cpr X requested FL410. Without hesitation I assigned cpr X FL410. I totally missed seeing cpr Y data block. When conflict alert activated, I immediately gave cpr X a 20 degree right turn and descent to FL390. Cpr X advised he was out of FL395 climbing to FL410. I again told cpr X to descend and maintain FL390 and to fly heading 250 for traffic. When aircraft were clear, I cleared cpr X direct to tul but aircraft was actually direct act-aus.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: AFTER GOING THRU A PERIOD OF HEAVY TFC, MOST OF THE ACFT WERE LEAVING THE SECTOR. CPR X CHECKED ON AT FL390 (MKC-ACT-AUS). CPR X FROM LAX-CIM STL ILG WAS 25 MI NW OF BUM AT FL410. CPR X WAS HANDED OFF AND SHIPPED TO SECTOR 30. 30 NW OF BUM, CPR X REQUESTED FL410. WITHOUT HESITATION I ASSIGNED CPR X FL410. I TOTALLY MISSED SEEING CPR Y DATA BLOCK. WHEN CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED, I IMMEDIATELY GAVE CPR X A 20 DEG RIGHT TURN AND DSCNT TO FL390. CPR X ADVISED HE WAS OUT OF FL395 CLIMBING TO FL410. I AGAIN TOLD CPR X TO DSND AND MAINTAIN FL390 AND TO FLY HDG 250 FOR TFC. WHEN ACFT WERE CLEAR, I CLRED CPR X DIRECT TO TUL BUT ACFT WAS ACTUALLY DIRECT ACT-AUS.

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.