Narrative:

I was above the clouds on an IFR flight plan eastbound over hagerstown, md at 11000' with a strong tailwind of approximately 35 KTS. The ZDC controller (134.15) asked me to expedite my descent to 7000'. I was on a heading of 155 degrees. I began my descent and informed the controller 'unable more than 500 FPM descent' (wife with bad cold on board). Center then called back and wanted me at 5000'. I had now entered the clouds and was in moderate turbulence, over mountains, with a strong following wind, heavy rain mixed with wet ice. Center called again and asked me to 'stop descent at 7000 and turn left 10 degrees for traffic.' I complied with the clearance as I understood it to the best of my ability under the conditions. After what seemed about 2 mins I heard nothing from the controller concerning my traffic and, realizing I was in a high density area I decided to query the controller as to my vector to safely pass the traffic. He replied I was now to turn immediately to 340 degrees and that my previous vector was to 10 degrees a few mins ago. Evidently there was a loss of sep because of this misunderstanding. I was in solid IMC at the tie with extremely poor flight conditions stated earlier and never saw the traffic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEVIATION FROM CLRNC RESULTS IN A LOSS OF SEPARATION AND A POTENTIAL CONFLICT.

Narrative: I WAS ABOVE THE CLOUDS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN EBND OVER HAGERSTOWN, MD AT 11000' WITH A STRONG TAILWIND OF APPROX 35 KTS. THE ZDC CTLR (134.15) ASKED ME TO EXPEDITE MY DSNT TO 7000'. I WAS ON A HDG OF 155 DEGS. I BEGAN MY DSNT AND INFORMED THE CTLR 'UNABLE MORE THAN 500 FPM DSNT' (WIFE WITH BAD COLD ON BOARD). CENTER THEN CALLED BACK AND WANTED ME AT 5000'. I HAD NOW ENTERED THE CLOUDS AND WAS IN MODERATE TURB, OVER MOUNTAINS, WITH A STRONG FOLLOWING WIND, HVY RAIN MIXED WITH WET ICE. CENTER CALLED AGAIN AND ASKED ME TO 'STOP DSNT AT 7000 AND TURN LEFT 10 DEGS FOR TFC.' I COMPLIED WITH THE CLRNC AS I UNDERSTOOD IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY UNDER THE CONDITIONS. AFTER WHAT SEEMED ABOUT 2 MINS I HEARD NOTHING FROM THE CTLR CONCERNING MY TFC AND, REALIZING I WAS IN A HIGH DENSITY AREA I DECIDED TO QUERY THE CTLR AS TO MY VECTOR TO SAFELY PASS THE TFC. HE REPLIED I WAS NOW TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO 340 DEGS AND THAT MY PREVIOUS VECTOR WAS TO 10 DEGS A FEW MINS AGO. EVIDENTLY THERE WAS A LOSS OF SEP BECAUSE OF THIS MISUNDERSTANDING. I WAS IN SOLID IMC AT THE TIE WITH EXTREMELY POOR FLT CONDITIONS STATED EARLIER AND NEVER SAW THE TFC.

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.