ARTCC radar controller descended an aircraft to a lower altitude then he intended. Aircraft passed opposite direction traffic with less than standard separation.

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Attributes
ACN	158196
Time
Date	199009
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxt
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	158195
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I gave a small aircraft X a clearance to 9000' when I meant to give clearance to 13000'. I had 12000' traffic (small aircraft Y) opp direction. I did not realize improper clearance was given until mode C was observed below intended assigned altitude. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter stated that normal altitude for the aircraft was 13000'. Another arwy altitude is 9000'. Apparently, he got the arwys/altitudes xed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR DESCENDED AN ACFT TO A LOWER ALT THEN HE INTENDED. ACFT PASSED OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC WITH LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: I GAVE A SMA X A CLRNC TO 9000' WHEN I MEANT TO GIVE CLRNC TO 13000'. I HAD 12000' TFC (SMA Y) OPP DIRECTION. I DID NOT REALIZE IMPROPER CLRNC WAS GIVEN UNTIL MODE C WAS OBSERVED BELOW INTENDED ASSIGNED ALT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATED THAT NORMAL ALT FOR THE ACFT WAS 13000'. ANOTHER ARWY ALT IS 9000'. APPARENTLY, HE GOT THE ARWYS/ALTS XED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.