Aircraft was descended into opposite direction traffic which resulted in less than standard separati...

Attributes
ACN	176709
Time
Date	199104
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkg
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau tower : cle
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	176709
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	176391
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

About 100 mi west of mxg at FL370, ZAU cleared us to cross 50 mi west of mkg at FL330. About 90 mi west of mkg, the first officer started a descent to FL330. In the descent a new voice came on the center frequency (a female voice) and told us to turn right to a heading 150 degrees (about a 40 degree turn to right). There was a sense of immediacy in her voice so we increased our bank angle. She then said, 'increase descent rate.' we saw the oncoming traffic at 10 O'clock about 2 mi and above us. We leveled at FL330 and were cleared on course. Nothing was said about the conflict. We were complying with the clearance and the conflict was a 'screw up' on ATC's part. However, just in case any 'bells' were set off in the center, I don't want to be blamed for it and this report is precautionary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT WAS DESCENDED INTO OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTED IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: ABOUT 100 MI W OF MXG AT FL370, ZAU CLRED US TO CROSS 50 MI W OF MKG AT FL330. ABOUT 90 MI W OF MKG, THE F/O STARTED A DSNT TO FL330. IN THE DSNT A NEW VOICE CAME ON THE CENTER FREQ (A FEMALE VOICE) AND TOLD US TO TURN RIGHT TO A HDG 150 DEGS (ABOUT A 40 DEG TURN TO RIGHT). THERE WAS A SENSE OF IMMEDIACY IN HER VOICE SO WE INCREASED OUR BANK ANGLE. SHE THEN SAID, 'INCREASE DSNT RATE.' WE SAW THE ONCOMING TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK ABOUT 2 MI AND ABOVE US. WE LEVELED AT FL330 AND WERE CLRED ON COURSE. NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE CONFLICT. WE WERE COMPLYING WITH THE CLRNC AND THE CONFLICT WAS A 'SCREW UP' ON ATC'S PART. HOWEVER, JUST IN CASE ANY 'BELLS' WERE SET OFF IN THE CENTER, I DON'T WANT TO BE BLAMED FOR IT AND THIS RPT IS PRECAUTIONARY.

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.

Aircraft was descended into opposite direction traffic which resulted in less than standard separation.