ARTCC radar controller in the process of being relieved, descended an air carrier B757 to an altitude that was occupied by another air carrier B757. Traffic, an A310, was a factor necessitating the descent. Reporter admits he should have completed his briefing of relief and let the relieving controller solve the situation.

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Attributes
ACN	371455
Time
Date	199706
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fkn
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 9 controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	371455
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 11400 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

As I was being relieved at the yorktown super-high sector (sector 50) at ZDC, I pointed out to the relieving controller that air carrier X (B757) and air carrier Z (H/EA31/right) would be in confliction within 5-7 mins and suggested a 15 degree vector to the right for air carrier X. He replied that since air carrier X had to descend per coordination with ZNY that it would be preferable to descend air carrier X to FL350, which I did without noticing that air carrier Y (B757) was in immediate conflict with air carrier X. This was an error on my part which was probably due to trying to accomplish too much prior to handing over the sector. It would have been better for me to have pointed out the potential confliction, allow the relieving controller to assume the position and then observed to make sure he understood and took appropriate steps for a proper resolution.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RELIEVED, DSNDED AN ACR B757 TO AN ALT THAT WAS OCCUPIED BY ANOTHER ACR B757. TFC, AN A310, WAS A FACTOR NECESSITATING THE DSCNT. RPTR ADMITS HE SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED HIS BRIEFING OF RELIEF AND LET THE RELIEVING CTLR SOLVE THE SIT.

Narrative: AS I WAS BEING RELIEVED AT THE YORKTOWN SUPER-HIGH SECTOR (SECTOR 50) AT ZDC, I POINTED OUT TO THE RELIEVING CTLR THAT ACR X (B757) AND ACR Z (H/EA31/R) WOULD BE IN CONFLICTION WITHIN 5-7 MINS AND SUGGESTED A 15 DEG VECTOR TO THE R FOR ACR X. HE REPLIED THAT SINCE ACR X HAD TO DSND PER COORD WITH ZNY THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO DSND ACR X TO FL350, WHICH I DID WITHOUT NOTICING THAT ACR Y (B757) WAS IN IMMEDIATE CONFLICT WITH ACR X. THIS WAS AN ERROR ON MY PART WHICH WAS PROBABLY DUE TO TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOO MUCH PRIOR TO HANDING OVER THE SECTOR. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR ME TO HAVE POINTED OUT THE POTENTIAL CONFLICTION, ALLOW THE RELIEVING CTLR TO ASSUME THE POS AND THEN OBSERVED TO MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTOOD AND TOOK APPROPRIATE STEPS FOR A PROPER RESOLUTION.

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.