ZID developmental controller issued descent clearance at FL280 resulting in conflict as instructor was late in recognizing the developing operational error.

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Attributes
ACN	672482
Time
Date	200509
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pxv.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.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
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
ASRS Report	672482
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 21000 vertical : 70
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was checked out as radar associate at the sector. The radar controller was allowing me to get some radar experience by acting as radar controller while he oversaw. He turned to answer a question to someone else and I gave a clearance to descend an airplane when I thought they had lateral separation but they were only 3 1/2 mi apart (and diverging). When I put the new altitude in; I saw them turn red on uret and realized they must not be 5 mi apart; so I told the pilot to maintain FL290 but he had already descended 300 ft below it. The radar controller (after I told him what was going on) tried to correct it also; but it was too late.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR ISSUED DSCNT CLRNC AT FL280 RESULTING IN CONFLICT AS INSTRUCTOR WAS LATE IN RECOGNIZING THE DEVELOPING OPERROR.

Narrative: I WAS CHKED OUT AS RADAR ASSOCIATE AT THE SECTOR. THE RADAR CTLR WAS ALLOWING ME TO GET SOME RADAR EXPERIENCE BY ACTING AS RADAR CTLR WHILE HE OVERSAW. HE TURNED TO ANSWER A QUESTION TO SOMEONE ELSE AND I GAVE A CLRNC TO DSND AN AIRPLANE WHEN I THOUGHT THEY HAD LATERAL SEPARATION BUT THEY WERE ONLY 3 1/2 MI APART (AND DIVERGING). WHEN I PUT THE NEW ALT IN; I SAW THEM TURN RED ON URET AND REALIZED THEY MUST NOT BE 5 MI APART; SO I TOLD THE PLT TO MAINTAIN FL290 BUT HE HAD ALREADY DSNDED 300 FT BELOW IT. THE RADAR CTLR (AFTER I TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON) TRIED TO CORRECT IT ALSO; BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

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.