Air carrier was inadvertently turned toward another aircraft at the same altitude.

Attributes
ACN	128526
Time
Date	198911
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ign
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	128526
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was working the radar position of the kingston sector at bos ARTCC. I issued a 190 degree heading to air carrier X. This clearance was meant to be issued to air carrier xx. About 1 min later, I noticed that air carrier X and mlt Y were in a potential conflicting state. I then descended air carrier X to FL290 and told him to fly heading 290 degrees. I also turned mlt Y to a heading of 180 degrees. At that time, I was removed from the position and was told that an investigation would be made of a possible operational error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS INADVERTENTLY TURNED TOWARD ANOTHER ACFT AT THE SAME ALT.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE RADAR POS OF THE KINGSTON SECTOR AT BOS ARTCC. I ISSUED A 190 DEG HDG TO ACR X. THIS CLRNC WAS MEANT TO BE ISSUED TO ACR XX. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, I NOTICED THAT ACR X AND MLT Y WERE IN A POTENTIAL CONFLICTING STATE. I THEN DSNDED ACR X TO FL290 AND TOLD HIM TO FLY HDG 290 DEGS. I ALSO TURNED MLT Y TO A HDG OF 180 DEGS. AT THAT TIME, I WAS REMOVED FROM THE POS AND WAS TOLD THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE MADE OF A POSSIBLE OPERROR.

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.