ZID radar associate described operational error at 17000 ft as the radar controller was resolving a conflict in one part of the airspace and failing to observe another conflict developing in the opposite section of the airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	653803
Time
Date	200504
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : abb.vortac
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tower : zzzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 2.5 flight time total : 70
ASRS Report	653806
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 1 controller time certified in position1 : 1
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 14400 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Radar position was busy with spacing cvg arrs; sdf and ind departures; and sdf arrs. Radar was solving a confliction in the north part of the sector; and then a confliction started in the south part of the sector. I was busy keeping up with coordination. The MD80 was descending from F180 to 15000 ft and was in conflict with the E145 who was at FL180. I heard the radar issue turns to both aircraft to separate them. An additional clearance was issued to descend to 17000 ft but I did not hear who it was issued to.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID RADAR ASSOCIATE DESCRIBED OPERROR AT 17000 FT AS THE RADAR CTLR WAS RESOLVING A CONFLICT IN ONE PART OF THE AIRSPACE AND FAILING TO OBSERVE ANOTHER CONFLICT DEVELOPING IN THE OPPOSITE SECTION OF THE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: RADAR POS WAS BUSY WITH SPACING CVG ARRS; SDF AND IND DEPS; AND SDF ARRS. RADAR WAS SOLVING A CONFLICTION IN THE N PART OF THE SECTOR; AND THEN A CONFLICTION STARTED IN THE S PART OF THE SECTOR. I WAS BUSY KEEPING UP WITH COORD. THE MD80 WAS DSNDING FROM F180 TO 15000 FT AND WAS IN CONFLICT WITH THE E145 WHO WAS AT FL180. I HEARD THE RADAR ISSUE TURNS TO BOTH ACFT TO SEPARATE THEM. AN ADDITIONAL CLRNC WAS ISSUED TO DSND TO 17000 FT BUT I DID NOT HEAR WHO IT WAS ISSUED TO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.