Less than standard separation between 2 air carrier aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	82180
Time
Date	198802
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tyi
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 32000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 25
ASRS Report	82180
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Foreign air carrier X was northbound descending to FL270. Air carrier Y was southbound at FL310. I had just taken over the sector and didn't realize X had a minor route change that took him closer to Y. My attention was on another part of the sector when the C/a activated. Since air carrier X altitude readout showed him above FL330, I tried to stop his descent. He advised he was below FL330 and was unable to comply. I then gave both aircraft left turns but there wasn't enough time to achieve sep. There was a slight delay giving air carrier X his first clearance because it took me a second or 2 to connect the aircraft identify with the correct radio call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: FOREIGN ACR X WAS NBOUND DSNDING TO FL270. ACR Y WAS SBND AT FL310. I HAD JUST TAKEN OVER THE SECTOR AND DIDN'T REALIZE X HAD A MINOR ROUTE CHANGE THAT TOOK HIM CLOSER TO Y. MY ATTN WAS ON ANOTHER PART OF THE SECTOR WHEN THE C/A ACTIVATED. SINCE ACR X ALT READOUT SHOWED HIM ABOVE FL330, I TRIED TO STOP HIS DSCNT. HE ADVISED HE WAS BELOW FL330 AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLY. I THEN GAVE BOTH ACFT LEFT TURNS BUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME TO ACHIEVE SEP. THERE WAS A SLIGHT DELAY GIVING ACR X HIS FIRST CLRNC BECAUSE IT TOOK ME A SECOND OR 2 TO CONNECT THE ACFT IDENT WITH THE CORRECT RADIO CALL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.