An small transport was descended through the altitude of another aircraft due to a loss of data bloc...

Attributes
ACN	116392
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lvl
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	116392
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 non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

The air carrier X was deviating around a thunderstorm. The data block on the aircraft somehow was removed from my radar screen. Approximately 3 mins later small transport Y was descended through air carrier X. Traffic volume was heavy and coordination requirements were also heavy due to WX. There is no explanation at this time as to why air carrier X's data block was dropped from my scope. I consider this to be an equipment error rather than controller error. I also believe that too many aircraft are being allowed into the air during periods of bad WX. Often times there is no plan on how these aircraft are going to get from point a to point B. The aircraft deviate and it is up to the controller to figure out how to get the aircraft where he wants to go and perform all the required coords.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMT WAS DESCENDED THROUGH THE ALT OF ANOTHER ACFT DUE TO A LOSS OF DATA BLOCK INFORMATION.

Narrative: THE ACR X WAS DEVIATING AROUND A TSTM. THE DATA BLOCK ON THE ACFT SOMEHOW WAS REMOVED FROM MY RADAR SCREEN. APPROX 3 MINS LATER SMT Y WAS DESCENDED THROUGH ACR X. TFC VOLUME WAS HEAVY AND COORD REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO HEAVY DUE TO WX. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AT THIS TIME AS TO WHY ACR X'S DATA BLOCK WAS DROPPED FROM MY SCOPE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN EQUIPMENT ERROR RATHER THAN CTLR ERROR. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT TOO MANY ACFT ARE BEING ALLOWED INTO THE AIR DURING PERIODS OF BAD WX. OFTEN TIMES THERE IS NO PLAN ON HOW THESE ACFT ARE GOING TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THE ACFT DEVIATE AND IT IS UP TO THE CTLR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE ACFT WHERE HE WANTS TO GO AND PERFORM ALL THE REQUIRED COORDS.

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.

An small transport was descended through the altitude of another aircraft due to a loss of data block information.