ZID controller experienced operational error at 17000 ft when incorrect altitude assignment was miss...

Attributes
ACN	661202
Time
Date	200206
Day	Wed
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rod.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : 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
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 17 controller non radar : 19 controller radar : 15
ASRS Report	661202
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 27 controller supervisory : 16
ASRS Report	661201
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24180 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While working numerous cvg and cmh departures at a combined position, I received a departure off of cmh that needed significant vectors to fit into the overhead ord stream. This aircraft was immediately followed by another west cmh departure to las vegas. Following several step climbs, the aircraft bound for las vegas took the wrong clearance and I missed the bad readback and separation was lost. Supplemental information from acn 661201: I was supervising the area when the watch desk advised that aedp had activated at lytle low sector. The aircraft involved were B737 and E145. E145 was level at 17000 ft. B737 was climbing to 16000 ft. The controller cleared E145 to FL190. B737 read back the clearance to climb and climbed through 16000 ft. Similar call signs were a factor. However, the controller failure to hear the readback also contributed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT 17000 FT WHEN INCORRECT ALT ASSIGNMENT WAS MISSED BY THE RPTR.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING NUMEROUS CVG AND CMH DEPS AT A COMBINED POS, I RECEIVED A DEP OFF OF CMH THAT NEEDED SIGNIFICANT VECTORS TO FIT INTO THE OVERHEAD ORD STREAM. THIS ACFT WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER W CMH DEP TO LAS VEGAS. FOLLOWING SEVERAL STEP CLBS, THE ACFT BOUND FOR LAS VEGAS TOOK THE WRONG CLRNC AND I MISSED THE BAD READBACK AND SEPARATION WAS LOST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 661201: I WAS SUPERVISING THE AREA WHEN THE WATCH DESK ADVISED THAT AEDP HAD ACTIVATED AT LYTLE LOW SECTOR. THE ACFT INVOLVED WERE B737 AND E145. E145 WAS LEVEL AT 17000 FT. B737 WAS CLBING TO 16000 FT. THE CTLR CLRED E145 TO FL190. B737 READ BACK THE CLRNC TO CLB AND CLBED THROUGH 16000 FT. SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WERE A FACTOR. HOWEVER, THE CTLR FAILURE TO HEAR THE READBACK ALSO CONTRIBUTED.

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.

ZID controller experienced operational error at 17000 ft when incorrect altitude assignment was missed by the reporter.