A very busy ARTCC radar controller misspeaks and issues an incorrect heading for separation.

Attributes
ACN	589357
Time
Date	200307
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pxv.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 1 controller time certified in position2 : 6
ASRS Report	589357
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller time certified in position2 : 4
ASRS Report	588971
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 23760 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier Y at FL280 issued heading of 130 degrees for spacing to cvg, (10 mi in-trail). Air carrier X at FL280, swbound. Conflict alert activated. Air carrier Y given 15 degrees right turn, radar said make it tight. Pilot read back right turn, radar said negative, fly heading 090 degrees. Tracker just entered position. Had approximately 17-20 aircraft on frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VERY BUSY ARTCC RADAR CTLR MISSPEAKS AND ISSUES AN INCORRECT HEADING FOR SEPARATION.

Narrative: ACR Y AT FL280 ISSUED HEADING OF 130 DEGS FOR SPACING TO CVG, (10 MI IN-TRAIL). ACR X AT FL280, SWBOUND. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED. ACR Y GIVEN 15 DEGS R TURN, RADAR SAID MAKE IT TIGHT. PLT READ BACK R TURN, RADAR SAID NEGATIVE, FLY HEADING 090 DEGS. TRACKER JUST ENTERED POS. HAD APPROX 17-20 ACFT ON FREQ.

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.