ZDC handoff controller involved in radar sector operational error.

Attributes
ACN	484970
Time
Date	200009
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 6 controller radar : 21
ASRS Report	484970
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier #1 was issued a clearance to climb to FL350. Second aircraft was head-on at FL330. A question to air carrier #1 was, 'if you have not left FL310 yet, turn right heading 220 degrees.' aircraft #1, 'yes we have left FL310' (mode C at FL313) final mode C before descent to FL310 was FL317. Prevent: just continuing scanning your sector.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC HDOF CTLR INVOLVED IN RADAR SECTOR OPERROR.

Narrative: ACR #1 WAS ISSUED A CLRNC TO CLB TO FL350. SECOND ACFT WAS HEAD-ON AT FL330. A QUESTION TO ACR #1 WAS, 'IF YOU HAVE NOT LEFT FL310 YET, TURN R HEADING 220 DEGS.' ACFT #1, 'YES WE HAVE LEFT FL310' (MODE C AT FL313) FINAL MODE C BEFORE DSCNT TO FL310 WAS FL317. PREVENT: JUST CONTINUING SCANNING YOUR SECTOR.

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.