ZID ARTCC radar controller lost separation with 3 aircraft at FL350 on conflicting courses.

Attributes
ACN	589489
Time
Date	200308
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : iiu.vortac
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 13
ASRS Report	589489
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 1 controller time certified in position2 : 6
ASRS Report	589490
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft were deviating in sector. 2 frequencys were being used at sector. While trying to keep 2 aircraft separated at FL350 (both nwbound) through WX, a third aircraft at FL350 deviated south. Aircraft X was descended, but separation was lost. Frequency congestion did take up extra time. Supplemental information from acn 589490: aircraft Y deviating south for WX. Aircraft X nwbound, both at FL350. Additional aircraft at FL350 overtaking aircraft X. Aircraft Y was deviating for approximately 5-6 mins. Notice the confliction descend aircraft X and turn aircraft Y.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID ARTCC RADAR CTLR LOST SEPARATION WITH 3 ACFT AT FL350 ON CONFLICTING COURSES.

Narrative: ACFT WERE DEVIATING IN SECTOR. 2 FREQS WERE BEING USED AT SECTOR. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP 2 ACFT SEPARATED AT FL350 (BOTH NWBOUND) THROUGH WX, A THIRD ACFT AT FL350 DEVIATED S. ACFT X WAS DSNDED, BUT SEPARATION WAS LOST. FREQ CONGESTION DID TAKE UP EXTRA TIME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 589490: ACFT Y DEVIATING S FOR WX. ACFT X NWBOUND, BOTH AT FL350. ADDITIONAL ACFT AT FL350 OVERTAKING ACFT X. ACFT Y WAS DEVIATING FOR APPROX 5-6 MINS. NOTICE THE CONFLICTION DSND ACFT X AND TURN ACFT Y.

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.