Narrative:

Our crew is usually 6 controllers. Because of approved leave; we started the shift with 5. About XA45 local; I began holding aircraft for sdf because of bad WX. I was offered a break about XB00 local; but turned the offer down. Because our fix is northwest of sdf; and it was anticipated the WX would clear from that direction first. Additional flts were routed to our fix. We held for about 4 hours; peeling flts off the bottom of our stack whenever WX at the field; or approach control's sequence would allow us. I was not offered any other breaks after XB00 local. At about XD40; I overlooked aircraft #2 holding at FL280; and instructed aircraft #1 to descend to FL250. Aircraft #1 began his descent; but leveled at FL287; and said he was responding to a TCAS alert and was climbing back to FL290. Aircraft #2 also advised of a TCAS alert and was told of aircraft #1 climbing action. I believe fatigue was a causative factor in my error.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT APPROX FL280 WHEN DSNDING HOLDING ACFT THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT.

Narrative: OUR CREW IS USUALLY 6 CTLRS. BECAUSE OF APPROVED LEAVE; WE STARTED THE SHIFT WITH 5. ABOUT XA45 LCL; I BEGAN HOLDING ACFT FOR SDF BECAUSE OF BAD WX. I WAS OFFERED A BREAK ABOUT XB00 LCL; BUT TURNED THE OFFER DOWN. BECAUSE OUR FIX IS NW OF SDF; AND IT WAS ANTICIPATED THE WX WOULD CLR FROM THAT DIRECTION FIRST. ADDITIONAL FLTS WERE ROUTED TO OUR FIX. WE HELD FOR ABOUT 4 HRS; PEELING FLTS OFF THE BOTTOM OF OUR STACK WHENEVER WX AT THE FIELD; OR APCH CTL'S SEQUENCE WOULD ALLOW US. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY OTHER BREAKS AFTER XB00 LCL. AT ABOUT XD40; I OVERLOOKED ACFT #2 HOLDING AT FL280; AND INSTRUCTED ACFT #1 TO DSND TO FL250. ACFT #1 BEGAN HIS DSCNT; BUT LEVELED AT FL287; AND SAID HE WAS RESPONDING TO A TCAS ALERT AND WAS CLBING BACK TO FL290. ACFT #2 ALSO ADVISED OF A TCAS ALERT AND WAS TOLD OF ACFT #1 CLBING ACTION. I BELIEVE FATIGUE WAS A CAUSATIVE FACTOR IN MY ERROR.

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.