Loss of separation reported between air carrier DC9 at FL350 and air carrier DC8 climbing to FL350.

Attributes
ACN	400755
Time
Date	199804
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16
ASRS Report	400755
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 non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 16800 vertical : 1400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Light to moderate turbulence all evening at all altitudes. Conditions improving west of my sector and at higher altitudes. Aircraft #2 at FL310 wanted to climb to FL350 to get better ride. Was in confliction with 2 other aircraft at FL350 in 15 mins. To clear these two, I was amending their rtes to take them behind aircraft #2. Aircraft #2 came on my frequency at FL330 requesting climb. Aircraft #1 was around 10 O'clock position and about 8 mi. I believe I reverted unconsciously to old terminal habit, courses had diverged, and I climbed aircraft #2 to FL350. Conflict alert went off. Closest point 2.8 mi, 1400 ft. I was too quick to help, didn't properly scan traffic situation. Stupid deal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF SEPARATION RPTED BTWN ACR DC9 AT FL350 AND ACR DC8 CLBING TO FL350.

Narrative: LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB ALL EVENING AT ALL ALTS. CONDITIONS IMPROVING W OF MY SECTOR AND AT HIGHER ALTS. ACFT #2 AT FL310 WANTED TO CLB TO FL350 TO GET BETTER RIDE. WAS IN CONFLICTION WITH 2 OTHER ACFT AT FL350 IN 15 MINS. TO CLR THESE TWO, I WAS AMENDING THEIR RTES TO TAKE THEM BEHIND ACFT #2. ACFT #2 CAME ON MY FREQ AT FL330 REQUESTING CLB. ACFT #1 WAS AROUND 10 O'CLOCK POS AND ABOUT 8 MI. I BELIEVE I REVERTED UNCONSCIOUSLY TO OLD TERMINAL HABIT, COURSES HAD DIVERGED, AND I CLBED ACFT #2 TO FL350. CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF. CLOSEST POINT 2.8 MI, 1400 FT. I WAS TOO QUICK TO HELP, DIDN'T PROPERLY SCAN TFC SIT. STUPID DEAL.

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.