ZID ARTCC controller lost separation with climbing H-C135 and en route BE9L commuter.

Attributes
ACN	583714
Time
Date	200105
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ctw.vor
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Stratotanker 135
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller limited radar : 1 controller military : 6 controller radar : 1 controller time certified in position2 : 8
ASRS Report	583714
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Overflt traffic at FL230 flashed on to next sector. H/C135 departed columbus climbing to 10000 ft. I climbed the H/C135 to FL230 and cleared on course to hlg anticipating that he would top the overflt traffic. I climbed the H/C135 to FL270. The overflt data tag timed out and dropped off the scope leaving me with only limited information. (An intruder tag with altitude). The H/C135 slowed his climb and I turned him 15 degrees left. His target jumped forward approximately 3 mi and mode C intruder conflict alert activated. I attempted to move the data blocks and was distracted with a drop down menu which covered the intruder target. I turned the H/C135 to heading 050 degrees. When I called the traffic to the H/C135, he said he leveled at FL230 and was climbing again. I switched the H/C135 to the next sector. I think the problem began with the H/C135 not complying with my original instructions to climb to his assigned altitude in a normal climb confign. Additionally, the expired data tag and overlapping drop down menu made it difficult to accurately determine the position of the traffic and give a sufficient vector to the H/C135.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID ARTCC CTLR LOST SEPARATION WITH CLBING H-C135 AND ENRTE BE9L COMMUTER.

Narrative: OVERFLT TFC AT FL230 FLASHED ON TO NEXT SECTOR. H/C135 DEPARTED COLUMBUS CLBING TO 10000 FT. I CLBED THE H/C135 TO FL230 AND CLRED ON COURSE TO HLG ANTICIPATING THAT HE WOULD TOP THE OVERFLT TFC. I CLBED THE H/C135 TO FL270. THE OVERFLT DATA TAG TIMED OUT AND DROPPED OFF THE SCOPE LEAVING ME WITH ONLY LIMITED INFO. (AN INTRUDER TAG WITH ALT). THE H/C135 SLOWED HIS CLB AND I TURNED HIM 15 DEGS L. HIS TARGET JUMPED FORWARD APPROX 3 MI AND MODE C INTRUDER CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE DATA BLOCKS AND WAS DISTRACTED WITH A DROP DOWN MENU WHICH COVERED THE INTRUDER TARGET. I TURNED THE H/C135 TO HEADING 050 DEGS. WHEN I CALLED THE TFC TO THE H/C135, HE SAID HE LEVELED AT FL230 AND WAS CLBING AGAIN. I SWITCHED THE H/C135 TO THE NEXT SECTOR. I THINK THE PROB BEGAN WITH THE H/C135 NOT COMPLYING WITH MY ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB TO HIS ASSIGNED ALT IN A NORMAL CLB CONFIGN. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXPIRED DATA TAG AND OVERLAPPING DROP DOWN MENU MADE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE POS OF THE TFC AND GIVE A SUFFICIENT VECTOR TO THE H/C135.

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.