Stuck microphone causes potential conflict less than standard separation.

Attributes
ACN	292163
Time
Date	199412
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ict
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Starlifter (C141)
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	292163
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On my last shift at ZKC with 15 mins left on my shift I almost witnessed a midair. Working the west high/low sectors I had 2 aircraft at FL350 that were going to conflict. About 10 mins from impact, I asked the cargo dc-8 if he could make FL370. Negative. I then went to the C-141 and advised him that he needed to go up or down, his choice. He said he would choose FL310. At that time, before I issued the clearance, I got a hot microphone on the frequency. I could no longer talk to either aircraft. After about 7 hair raising mins, I was able to get another aircraft to start calling the 2 in conflict. He finally got the C-141 and descended him immediately to FL310. The 2 aircraft were within 2 mins of impact (midair). Watch those mikes!!!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUCK MIKE CAUSES POTENTIAL CONFLICT LTSS.

Narrative: ON MY LAST SHIFT AT ZKC WITH 15 MINS LEFT ON MY SHIFT I ALMOST WITNESSED A MIDAIR. WORKING THE W HIGH/LOW SECTORS I HAD 2 ACFT AT FL350 THAT WERE GOING TO CONFLICT. ABOUT 10 MINS FROM IMPACT, I ASKED THE CARGO DC-8 IF HE COULD MAKE FL370. NEGATIVE. I THEN WENT TO THE C-141 AND ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO GO UP OR DOWN, HIS CHOICE. HE SAID HE WOULD CHOOSE FL310. AT THAT TIME, BEFORE I ISSUED THE CLRNC, I GOT A HOT MIKE ON THE FREQ. I COULD NO LONGER TALK TO EITHER ACFT. AFTER ABOUT 7 HAIR RAISING MINS, I WAS ABLE TO GET ANOTHER ACFT TO START CALLING THE 2 IN CONFLICT. HE FINALLY GOT THE C-141 AND DSNDED HIM IMMEDIATELY TO FL310. THE 2 ACFT WERE WITHIN 2 MINS OF IMPACT (MIDAIR). WATCH THOSE MIKES!!!

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.