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

Attributes
ACN	102098
Time
Date	198901
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stt
State Reference	VI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mjzs
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	102098
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 7200 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Four minutes after I assumed the right/2 and right/6 sectors combined there was a loss of separation between air carrier X and air carrier Y. Air carrier Y was off stx cleared direct stt at FL190. Foreign air carrier X was inbound to sju from pjm. I had intended to clear X down to FL200, but mistakenly said FL190 and the flight crew read altitude back as 9000. I did not catch error in altitude readback by air carrier X. There were two other potential conflict situations which needed my attention when I took the position. I believe I had 16 aircraft at time. Air carrier X was called 5 times and repeatedly given clearance to FL200. When I finally contacted X FL200 was in mind, but FL190 came out of my mouth. Air carrier X's readback of what is apparently 9000 on the tape, may not have been as audible on the position. It has been documented that we have had tremendous problems with radios lately. Also, I feel that inadequate attention by air carrier X flight crew was a contributing factor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: FOUR MINUTES AFTER I ASSUMED THE R/2 AND R/6 SECTORS COMBINED THERE WAS A LOSS OF SEPARATION BETWEEN ACR X AND ACR Y. ACR Y WAS OFF STX CLRED DIRECT STT AT FL190. FOREIGN ACR X WAS INBND TO SJU FROM PJM. I HAD INTENDED TO CLR X DOWN TO FL200, BUT MISTAKENLY SAID FL190 AND THE FLT CREW READ ALT BACK AS 9000. I DID NOT CATCH ERROR IN ALT READBACK BY ACR X. THERE WERE TWO OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICT SITUATIONS WHICH NEEDED MY ATTN WHEN I TOOK THE POSITION. I BELIEVE I HAD 16 ACFT AT TIME. ACR X WAS CALLED 5 TIMES AND REPEATEDLY GIVEN CLRNC TO FL200. WHEN I FINALLY CONTACTED X FL200 WAS IN MIND, BUT FL190 CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH. ACR X'S READBACK OF WHAT IS APPARENTLY 9000 ON THE TAPE, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS AUDIBLE ON THE POSITION. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED THAT WE HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH RADIOS LATELY. ALSO, I FEEL THAT INADEQUATE ATTN BY ACR X FLT CREW WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

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.