Narrative:

At the time of the operational error there were between 15-17 aircraft in the sector and on frequency. Metering was taking place to the dulles airport. Air carrier X was a dulles arrival heading toward the fak VOR descending to FL220. Aircraft X was an orf departure heading west on about 280 degree heading. Aircraft X was at FL220. While trying to meet the meter times for iad; I became distraction and allowed aircraft X to come too far wbound without climbing. When I noticed the impending situation I climbed aircraft X to FL230 and descended air carrier X to FL210; ending up with 4 mi and 600 ft separation. I believe the distraction of the confusing metering problem certainly was a factor in the error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL220 WHEN FAILING TO RECOGNIZED A DEVELOPING CONFLICT; CITING METERING DUTIES AS DISTRACTING.

Narrative: AT THE TIME OF THE OPERROR THERE WERE BTWN 15-17 ACFT IN THE SECTOR AND ON FREQ. METERING WAS TAKING PLACE TO THE DULLES ARPT. ACR X WAS A DULLES ARR HEADING TOWARD THE FAK VOR DSNDING TO FL220. ACFT X WAS AN ORF DEP HEADING W ON ABOUT 280 DEG HDG. ACFT X WAS AT FL220. WHILE TRYING TO MEET THE METER TIMES FOR IAD; I BECAME DISTR AND ALLOWED ACFT X TO COME TOO FAR WBOUND WITHOUT CLBING. WHEN I NOTICED THE IMPENDING SITUATION I CLBED ACFT X TO FL230 AND DSNDED ACR X TO FL210; ENDING UP WITH 4 MI AND 600 FT SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THE DISTR OF THE CONFUSING METERING PROB CERTAINLY WAS A FACTOR IN THE 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.