Cpr X had less than standard separation with atx Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	156075
Time
Date	199009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bzm
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	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 military : 4 controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	156075
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
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 other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 28200 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

I was working R48 cpr X hky depart req FL250. Aircraft was step up to 10000' and handed off to R47. I asked R47 controller if he wanted me to climb cpr X. He said 16000' was approved. I climbed cpr X to 17000' in error. I switched cpr X to frequency 134.55. R47 controller did not verify his assigned altitude. Pilot stated, 'climbing to 17000' twice. System error with atx Y at 17000'. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter experience: 20 yrs radar, 4 yrs military. Operational error was filed. Miss distance 4.7 mi, 700'. The reporter was working low altitude sector and coordinated with the high altitude sector controller. High altitude sector was combined and moderately busy. Coordination did not take place on the interphone as the 2 controllers were next to each other. High altitude sector controller said '16 approved, traffic at 17.' a data controller now tried to decombine the sector and unplugged the radar controller and plugged him into the radio jack.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION WITH ATX Y. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING R48 CPR X HKY DEPART REQ FL250. ACFT WAS STEP UP TO 10000' AND HANDED OFF TO R47. I ASKED R47 CTLR IF HE WANTED ME TO CLB CPR X. HE SAID 16000' WAS APPROVED. I CLBED CPR X TO 17000' IN ERROR. I SWITCHED CPR X TO FREQ 134.55. R47 CTLR DID NOT VERIFY HIS ASSIGNED ALT. PLT STATED, 'CLBING TO 17000' TWICE. SYSTEM ERROR WITH ATX Y AT 17000'. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR EXPERIENCE: 20 YRS RADAR, 4 YRS MIL. OPERROR WAS FILED. MISS DISTANCE 4.7 MI, 700'. THE RPTR WAS WORKING LOW ALT SECTOR AND COORDINATED WITH THE HIGH ALT SECTOR CTLR. HIGH ALT SECTOR WAS COMBINED AND MODERATELY BUSY. COORD DID NOT TAKE PLACE ON THE INTERPHONE AS THE 2 CTLRS WERE NEXT TO EACH OTHER. HIGH ALT SECTOR CTLR SAID '16 APPROVED, TFC AT 17.' A DATA CTLR NOW TRIED TO DECOMBINE THE SECTOR AND UNPLUGGED THE RADAR CTLR AND PLUGGED HIM INTO THE RADIO JACK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.