Narrative:

Cpr X was swbound over L0Z, ky. Cpr X descent was issued to FL330 in accordance with ZID/ZTL LOA. A handoff from ZTL was received 5 NM northwest of tys at FL350. I was working the sme (somerset super high) radar sector. My d-side (manual controller) undertook to coordinate with ZTL to have all ord inbounds descended to FL310 or below. Air carrier Y was over tys at FL350 en route to ord. My d-side was coordinating the descent on XYZ235 when I brought his attention cpr X at FL330. I overheard him say 'leave him at FL350 rbl has the handoff, they'll work him down.' more was said I did not hear. I said 'they're leaving him at FL350' and was told 'hold on, I'm coordinating.' when my d-side got off the line I asked what was being done. I was told 'atlanta is separating.' I assumed that meant air carrier Y would remain at FL350 and go over cpr X at FL330. I then observed a mode C update of FL342 on air carrier Y under ZTL control. Turns and descent were issued to cpr X in an attempt to provide separation. Air carrier Y rate of descent was in excess of 3000 FPM, placing him below cpr X in 2 updates of radar, roughly 1 min. Cpr X was reclred to FL330 and resumed own navigation to mei. Separation was lost (fractionally less than 5 NM) and reestablished in 30 seconds. Supplemental information from acn 219191: I had coordinated with ZTL that they were providing separation on air carrier Y and cpr X. ZTL descended air carrier Y to FL310 from FL350. Cpr X was at FL330. I told radar controller that ZTL was providing. As aircraft got closer, radar controller descended cpr X to FL310 into confliction with air carrier Y. Radar controller believed air carrier Y was staying at FL350.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR Y DSCNT THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT HAD LTSS FROM CPR X. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: CPR X WAS SWBOUND OVER L0Z, KY. CPR X DSCNT WAS ISSUED TO FL330 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ZID/ZTL LOA. A HDOF FROM ZTL WAS RECEIVED 5 NM NW OF TYS AT FL350. I WAS WORKING THE SME (SOMERSET SUPER HIGH) RADAR SECTOR. MY D-SIDE (MANUAL CTLR) UNDERTOOK TO COORDINATE WITH ZTL TO HAVE ALL ORD INBOUNDS DSNDED TO FL310 OR BELOW. ACR Y WAS OVER TYS AT FL350 ENRTE TO ORD. MY D-SIDE WAS COORDINATING THE DSCNT ON XYZ235 WHEN I BROUGHT HIS ATTN CPR X AT FL330. I OVERHEARD HIM SAY 'LEAVE HIM AT FL350 RBL HAS THE HDOF, THEY'LL WORK HIM DOWN.' MORE WAS SAID I DID NOT HEAR. I SAID 'THEY'RE LEAVING HIM AT FL350' AND WAS TOLD 'HOLD ON, I'M COORDINATING.' WHEN MY D-SIDE GOT OFF THE LINE I ASKED WHAT WAS BEING DONE. I WAS TOLD 'ATLANTA IS SEPARATING.' I ASSUMED THAT MEANT ACR Y WOULD REMAIN AT FL350 AND GO OVER CPR X AT FL330. I THEN OBSERVED A MODE C UPDATE OF FL342 ON ACR Y UNDER ZTL CTL. TURNS AND DSCNT WERE ISSUED TO CPR X IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE SEPARATION. ACR Y RATE OF DSCNT WAS IN EXCESS OF 3000 FPM, PLACING HIM BELOW CPR X IN 2 UPDATES OF RADAR, ROUGHLY 1 MIN. CPR X WAS RECLRED TO FL330 AND RESUMED OWN NAV TO MEI. SEPARATION WAS LOST (FRACTIONALLY LESS THAN 5 NM) AND REESTABLISHED IN 30 SECONDS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 219191: I HAD COORDINATED WITH ZTL THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING SEPARATION ON ACR Y AND CPR X. ZTL DSNDED ACR Y TO FL310 FROM FL350. CPR X WAS AT FL330. I TOLD RADAR CTLR THAT ZTL WAS PROVIDING. AS ACFT GOT CLOSER, RADAR CTLR DSNDED CPR X TO FL310 INTO CONFLICTION WITH ACR Y. RADAR CTLR BELIEVED ACR Y WAS STAYING AT FL350.

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.