ZNY controller becomes distraction in other control duties and fails to resolve a developing conflict between a descending DH8 and an en route B190 at 12000 ft.

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Attributes
ACN	607447
Time
Date	200402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : har.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 18
ASRS Report	607447
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 14400 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft X was at 17000 ft en route to abe. Aircraft Y was proceeding direct to this VORTAC at 12000 ft from sector 26. I descended aircraft X to 11000 ft, which is my normal procedure for this aircraft assuming no conflicting traffic. As soon as I gave the descent, I realized aircraft Y was there and was going to be a factor. I input '130' in the data block for a handoff. I should have returned to aircraft X immediately and amended the clearance to 13000 ft, but I didn't and this is where my error occurred. I had other traffic to deal with and never did get back to it. I changed aircraft X frequency as they were descending through 15000 ft believing they were cleared only to 13000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR BECOMES DISTR IN OTHER CTL DUTIES AND FAILS TO RESOLVE A DEVELOPING CONFLICT BTWN A DSNDING DH8 AND AN ENRTE B190 AT 12000 FT.

Narrative: ACFT X WAS AT 17000 FT ENRTE TO ABE. ACFT Y WAS PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THIS VORTAC AT 12000 FT FROM SECTOR 26. I DSNDED ACFT X TO 11000 FT, WHICH IS MY NORMAL PROC FOR THIS ACFT ASSUMING NO CONFLICTING TFC. AS SOON AS I GAVE THE DSCNT, I REALIZED ACFT Y WAS THERE AND WAS GOING TO BE A FACTOR. I INPUT '130' IN THE DATA BLOCK FOR A HDOF. I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED TO ACFT X IMMEDIATELY AND AMENDED THE CLRNC TO 13000 FT, BUT I DIDN'T AND THIS IS WHERE MY ERROR OCCURRED. I HAD OTHER TFC TO DEAL WITH AND NEVER DID GET BACK TO IT. I CHANGED ACFT X FREQ AS THEY WERE DSNDING THROUGH 15000 FT BELIEVING THEY WERE CLRED ONLY TO 13000 FT.

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.