ZTL controller experienced operational error at 16000 ft as climbing aircraft conflicted with en rou...

Attributes
ACN	679024
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-46 Malibu
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 14
ASRS Report	679024
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18600 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was at ZTL west departure (04) position by myself and traffic was moderate on an east operation. I had taken a pointout on aircraft X at 16000 ft direct evv. I climbed air carrier X to FL230. At the time I had lateral and vertical separation between the aircraft; but because of the speed difference I would have to go back and check. In the interim; the operational supervisor took a phone call from another employee concerning leave and he proceeded to question me about the leave; distracting me from my sector duties. When I went back to check air carrier X climb I had backsided aircraft Y.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT 16000 FT AS CLBING ACFT CONFLICTED WITH ENRTE ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS AT ZTL W DEP (04) POS BY MYSELF AND TFC WAS MODERATE ON AN E OP. I HAD TAKEN A POINTOUT ON ACFT X AT 16000 FT DIRECT EVV. I CLBED ACR X TO FL230. AT THE TIME I HAD LATERAL AND VERT SEPARATION BTWN THE ACFT; BUT BECAUSE OF THE SPD DIFFERENCE I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHK. IN THE INTERIM; THE OPERATIONAL SUPVR TOOK A PHONE CALL FROM ANOTHER EMPLOYEE CONCERNING LEAVE AND HE PROCEEDED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT THE LEAVE; DISTRACTING ME FROM MY SECTOR DUTIES. WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHK ACR X CLB I HAD BACKSIDED ACFT Y.

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.

ZTL controller experienced operational error at 16000 ft as climbing aircraft conflicted with en route aircraft.