ZBW controller experienced loss of separation at FL310.

Attributes
ACN	615832
Time
Date	200404
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ctr.vor
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.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
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.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
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 16 controller non radar : 16.5 controller radar : 15 flight time total : 30
ASRS Report	615832
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
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
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 17000 vertical : 900
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Problem arose through an incorrect altitude clearance. After determining that there was a confliction, I tried to issue control instruction to solve the problem. These instructions did not get heard by the pilot as far as I know. Contributing factors were poor frequencys, and having the radar associate performing other required duties which were a much lower priority.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR EXPERIENCED LOSS OF SEPARATION AT FL310.

Narrative: PROB AROSE THROUGH AN INCORRECT ALT CLRNC. AFTER DETERMINING THAT THERE WAS A CONFLICTION, I TRIED TO ISSUE CTL INSTRUCTION TO SOLVE THE PROB. THESE INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT GET HEARD BY THE PLT AS FAR AS I KNOW. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE POOR FREQS, AND HAVING THE RADAR ASSOCIATE PERFORMING OTHER REQUIRED DUTIES WHICH WERE A MUCH LOWER PRIORITY.

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.