Narrative:

Air carrier Z (B737) inbound to elp was issued a clearance to FL210 for: atx X (outbound from elp) climbing to FL200 and air carrier Y (outbound from elp) climbing to FL200, both departures were laterally separated. X was cleared direct to tcs and was issued Z as traffic. To help provide Z and Y some service they were both issued turns, Z was turned 15 degrees left and Y was turned 10 degrees right, and were both issued the traffic. When Z was clear he was issued a descent to FL130 and the elp altimeter (I gave him the clearance first since he was landing and also there was some other traffic for him). I noticed the overtake that Y had on X, but was distracted by 2 things: a radar associate came to help and I was preparing for a briefing but a priority control action interrupted as follows: a PA34 was wbound landing lru at FL200 and was traffic for Z inbound to elp. Elp approach called and I answered to coordinate a heading and lower for Z. Elp approach requested a radar vector of 110 degrees and descending to FL110. I agreed and advised that PA34 would remain above Z and I would protect the Z. As I came back onto the frequencys, the radar associate said that PA34 had just checked on frequency but had not been answered. I answered PA34 and advised I would have lower momentarily. Then, I went back to Y and gave a clearance to climb to FL250 expecting the B727 to climb fast enough to 'top' X. Conflict alert activated and I issued a 30 degree left turn to Y and a 30 degree right turn to X (responses were received). I advised Y to expedite through FL210 and Y responded that he had the traffic in sight. Y was again asked to expedite through FL210 and he reported leaving FL215. The 2 aircraft were resumed on their courses.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR Y HAD LTSS FROM ATX X. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: ACR Z (B737) INBOUND TO ELP WAS ISSUED A CLRNC TO FL210 FOR: ATX X (OUTBOUND FROM ELP) CLBING TO FL200 AND ACR Y (OUTBOUND FROM ELP) CLBING TO FL200, BOTH DEPS WERE LATERALLY SEPARATED. X WAS CLRED DIRECT TO TCS AND WAS ISSUED Z AS TFC. TO HELP PROVIDE Z AND Y SOME SVC THEY WERE BOTH ISSUED TURNS, Z WAS TURNED 15 DEGS L AND Y WAS TURNED 10 DEGS R, AND WERE BOTH ISSUED THE TFC. WHEN Z WAS CLR HE WAS ISSUED A DSCNT TO FL130 AND THE ELP ALTIMETER (I GAVE HIM THE CLRNC FIRST SINCE HE WAS LNDG AND ALSO THERE WAS SOME OTHER TFC FOR HIM). I NOTICED THE OVERTAKE THAT Y HAD ON X, BUT WAS DISTRACTED BY 2 THINGS: A RADAR ASSOCIATE CAME TO HELP AND I WAS PREPARING FOR A BRIEFING BUT A PRIORITY CTL ACTION INTERRUPTED AS FOLLOWS: A PA34 WAS WBOUND LNDG LRU AT FL200 AND WAS TFC FOR Z INBOUND TO ELP. ELP APCH CALLED AND I ANSWERED TO COORDINATE A HDG AND LOWER FOR Z. ELP APCH REQUESTED A RADAR VECTOR OF 110 DEGS AND DSNDING TO FL110. I AGREED AND ADVISED THAT PA34 WOULD REMAIN ABOVE Z AND I WOULD PROTECT THE Z. AS I CAME BACK ONTO THE FREQS, THE RADAR ASSOCIATE SAID THAT PA34 HAD JUST CHKED ON FREQ BUT HAD NOT BEEN ANSWERED. I ANSWERED PA34 AND ADVISED I WOULD HAVE LOWER MOMENTARILY. THEN, I WENT BACK TO Y AND GAVE A CLRNC TO CLB TO FL250 EXPECTING THE B727 TO CLB FAST ENOUGH TO 'TOP' X. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AND I ISSUED A 30 DEG L TURN TO Y AND A 30 DEG R TURN TO X (RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED). I ADVISED Y TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL210 AND Y RESPONDED THAT HE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. Y WAS AGAIN ASKED TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL210 AND HE RPTED LEAVING FL215. THE 2 ACFT WERE RESUMED ON THEIR COURSES.

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.