Narrative:

Heavy thunderstorms throughout the evening; with moderate to severe turbulence reported FL370 and above. Numerous deviations around WX; causing many conflictions. Staffing at ZAB was not sufficient; most controllers were tired and not receiving appropriate breaks to ensure they were rested and able to handle the heavy volume of traffic. Training was occurring on the d-side or assist position. The CRJ9 was being controled by me heading northeast towards gag at FL350. The A320 was being controled by ZKC also at FL350 heading towards the southeast. After recognizing that there was a confliction; the d-side instructor coordination with ZKC to deconflict the 2 aircraft. ZKC said that they would climb the A320 to FL360. ZKC never climbed their aircraft causing the two to come very close. I initiated a 60 degree turn and issued an immediate climb to FL360; the pilot complied with the instructions in a very timely manner de-conflicting the aircraft. Because ZKC did not follow through with their initial plan; my control instructions placed the CRJ9 in close proximity to the thunderstorm. Low staffing; fatigue; WX; and training all played major roles in the incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR DESCRIBED CONFLICT EVENT AT FL350 WITH ACFT UNDER ZKC CTL; ALLEGING; DE-CONFLICTION COORD WAS COMPLETED BUT ACTIONS NOT TAKEN.

Narrative: HVY TSTMS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING; WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB RPTED FL370 AND ABOVE. NUMEROUS DEVS AROUND WX; CAUSING MANY CONFLICTIONS. STAFFING AT ZAB WAS NOT SUFFICIENT; MOST CTLRS WERE TIRED AND NOT RECEIVING APPROPRIATE BREAKS TO ENSURE THEY WERE RESTED AND ABLE TO HANDLE THE HVY VOLUME OF TFC. TRAINING WAS OCCURRING ON THE D-SIDE OR ASSIST POS. THE CRJ9 WAS BEING CTLED BY ME HDG NE TOWARDS GAG AT FL350. THE A320 WAS BEING CTLED BY ZKC ALSO AT FL350 HEADING TOWARDS THE SE. AFTER RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WAS A CONFLICTION; THE D-SIDE INSTRUCTOR COORD WITH ZKC TO DECONFLICT THE 2 ACFT. ZKC SAID THAT THEY WOULD CLB THE A320 TO FL360. ZKC NEVER CLBED THEIR ACFT CAUSING THE TWO TO COME VERY CLOSE. I INITIATED A 60 DEG TURN AND ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO FL360; THE PLT COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER DE-CONFLICTING THE ACFT. BECAUSE ZKC DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR INITIAL PLAN; MY CTL INSTRUCTIONS PLACED THE CRJ9 IN CLOSE PROX TO THE TSTM. LOW STAFFING; FATIGUE; WX; AND TRAINING ALL PLAYED MAJOR ROLES IN THE INCIDENT.

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.