ZHU controllers reported of a separation loss when the radar controller requested an aircraft to sto...

Attributes
ACN	1413265
Time
Date	201701
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZHU.ARTCC
State Reference	TX
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 6 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6
Person 2
Function	Enroute Handoff / Assist
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 6 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

There was weather in the sector. The northeast corner post of houston approach was shut off; and all arrivals from the east were coming through my sector. Halfway through a very busy arrival push; the supervisor instructed me to send six aircraft to another corner post and for me to hold the remaining aircraft I had on frequency. This was all due to weather. I instructed aircraft Y to proceed direct girly intersection to hold at FL200. I also instructed aircraft X to proceed direct girly intersection and to hold at FL220. On the way to girly intersection; aircraft X advised that they will not be able to hold and requested clearance to lake charles regional airport. I cleared aircraft X direct lake charles regional airport and issued a descent clearance to 150 due to traffic at 140. The pilot of aircraft X requested a vector of 020 due to weather; which I issued to the pilot. When aircraft X was at FL217 descending to 150; I instructed the pilot to amend their altitude to maintain FL210. The pilot of aircraft X stated they were unable to maintain FL210. I then instructed aircraft X to stop descent and climb to and maintain FL210. Separation was lost between aircraft X and aircraft Y.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZHU Controllers reported of a separation loss when the RADAR Controller requested an aircraft to stop its descent; but the pilot reported they could not.

Narrative: There was weather in the sector. The Northeast corner post of Houston Approach was shut off; and all arrivals from the east were coming through my sector. Halfway through a very busy arrival push; the Supervisor instructed me to send six aircraft to another corner post and for me to hold the remaining aircraft I had on frequency. This was all due to weather. I Instructed Aircraft Y to proceed direct GIRLY intersection to hold at FL200. I also instructed Aircraft X to proceed direct GIRLY intersection and to hold at FL220. On the way to GIRLY intersection; Aircraft X advised that they will not be able to hold and requested clearance to Lake Charles Regional Airport. I cleared Aircraft X direct Lake Charles Regional Airport and issued a descent clearance to 150 due to traffic at 140. The pilot of Aircraft X requested a vector of 020 due to weather; which I issued to the pilot. When Aircraft X was at FL217 descending to 150; I instructed the pilot to amend their altitude to maintain FL210. The pilot of Aircraft X stated they were unable to maintain FL210. I then instructed Aircraft X to stop descent and climb to and maintain FL210. Separation was lost between Aircraft X and Aircraft Y.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

ZHU controllers reported of a separation loss when the radar controller requested an aircraft to stop its descent; but the pilot reported they could not.