Approach controller described a probable loss of separation event when an aircraft with mechanical p...

Narrative:

A PRM1 departed climbing to 3;000. I identified the PRM1; issued traffic at 3;500; which he got in sight. I climbed the PRM1 to 5;000 for traffic descending to 6;000. A BE36 was 20 northeast descending to 4;000. Sometime during this; another aircraft declared loss of throttle control and needed to land at nearest airport. The emergency aircraft was 25 southeast south bound. I vectored the emergency aircraft to the closest airport. When I looked up and moved the cloud of data blocks northeast; I saw the PRM1 level at 4;000. I tried to climb them twice with no reply. I finally turned the BE36 heading 180 for traffic. Don't know how close they came. The PRM1 should have been level at 5;000. The PRM1 [should have] climbed to assigned altitude and read back altitude at standard rate. The PRM1 responded to control instructions. When handling an aircraft in distress; someone needs to help monitor the other traffic; instead of everyone in the room trying to help the distress aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Approach Controller described a probable loss of separation event when an aircraft with mechanical problems was vectored and descended to a nearby airport.

Narrative: A PRM1 departed climbing to 3;000. I identified the PRM1; issued traffic at 3;500; which he got in sight. I climbed the PRM1 to 5;000 for traffic descending to 6;000. A BE36 was 20 northeast descending to 4;000. Sometime during this; another aircraft declared loss of throttle control and needed to land at nearest airport. The emergency aircraft was 25 southeast south bound. I vectored the emergency aircraft to the closest airport. When I looked up and moved the cloud of data blocks northeast; I saw the PRM1 level at 4;000. I tried to climb them twice with no reply. I finally turned the BE36 heading 180 for traffic. Don't know how close they came. The PRM1 should have been level at 5;000. The PRM1 [should have] climbed to assigned altitude and read back altitude at standard rate. The PRM1 responded to control instructions. When handling an aircraft in distress; someone needs to help monitor the other traffic; instead of everyone in the room trying to help the distress aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	935099
Time
Date	201103
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Premier 1
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Departure Approach Coordinator
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Approach controller described a probable loss of separation event when an aircraft with mechanical problems was vectored and descended to a nearby airport.