Narrative:

I was working sector 30 at ZKC with moderate traffic; by myself; at the time of the incident. We only had 10 certified professional controllers scheduled to work this night. The minimum required number for this shift is 12. Additionally; one of these certified professional controllers was assigned to the controller in charge position while the 2 supervisors that were here were assigned other duties. If we had had the required number of certified professional controllers working this shift; then I would have had the help that was needed at the time; and the error would not have occurred. Sector 30 is a 2-PERSON sector and normally is staffed with 2 people when the traffic level is moderate or greater. The traffic was moderate at the time of the incident; but I was working by myself.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZKC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL310 CLAIMING COMBINED SECTOR OPS AND LACK OF STAFFING WAS PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTOR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING SECTOR 30 AT ZKC WITH MODERATE TFC; BY MYSELF; AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WE ONLY HAD 10 CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CTLRS SCHEDULED TO WORK THIS NIGHT. THE MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER FOR THIS SHIFT IS 12. ADDITIONALLY; ONE OF THESE CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CTLRS WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CIC POS WHILE THE 2 SUPVRS THAT WERE HERE WERE ASSIGNED OTHER DUTIES. IF WE HAD HAD THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CTLRS WORKING THIS SHIFT; THEN I WOULD HAVE HAD THE HELP THAT WAS NEEDED AT THE TIME; AND THE ERROR WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. SECTOR 30 IS A 2-PERSON SECTOR AND NORMALLY IS STAFFED WITH 2 PEOPLE WHEN THE TFC LEVEL IS MODERATE OR GREATER. THE TFC WAS MODERATE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT; BUT I WAS WORKING BY MYSELF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.