Narrative:

We were at FL390 on J96 near gck working with ZKC (133.45). Center asked us if we could accept FL410. I asked them what the wind was at that altitude. After a pause they gave me the wind. I replied we could accept FL410. We were then cleared to FL410 and I acknowledged the clearance. Passing through about FL397 the controller said to descend immediately to FL390. I immediately descended and acknowledged about 10 or 15 mi west of gck. About 4 or 5 mins later we were reclred to FL410. This was an ATC controller mistake, but he caught it in time, so I consider it an ATC altitude excursion. Supplemental information from acn 161527: I was attempting to help ZAB with a problem that involved 3 aircraft at FL390. All 3 aircraft were being worked by different sectors. I coordinated with the next sector and the aircraft involved. I climbed the aircraft to FL410 and became distracted by other duties. About 20 seconds after the clearance was given I noticed I had another aircraft at FL410 eastbound and heads up. Closest point 3.7 mi, 1600'. I was working by myself and I should not have been. I tried to take on too much by myself and this led to less attention to my primary duties.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR ATTEMPTING TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER ARTCC FACS CLEARED FLT TO FL410, THEN REALIZED A CONFLICT WAS IMMINENT AND RECLEARED THE FLT BACK TO FL390. SEPARATION WAS 3 PT 7 MILES.

Narrative: WE WERE AT FL390 ON J96 NEAR GCK WORKING WITH ZKC (133.45). CENTER ASKED US IF WE COULD ACCEPT FL410. I ASKED THEM WHAT THE WIND WAS AT THAT ALT. AFTER A PAUSE THEY GAVE ME THE WIND. I REPLIED WE COULD ACCEPT FL410. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO FL410 AND I ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC. PASSING THROUGH ABOUT FL397 THE CTLR SAID TO DSND IMMEDIATELY TO FL390. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED AND ACKNOWLEDGED ABOUT 10 OR 15 MI W OF GCK. ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINS LATER WE WERE RECLRED TO FL410. THIS WAS AN ATC CTLR MISTAKE, BUT HE CAUGHT IT IN TIME, SO I CONSIDER IT AN ATC ALT EXCURSION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 161527: I WAS ATTEMPTING TO HELP ZAB WITH A PROB THAT INVOLVED 3 ACFT AT FL390. ALL 3 ACFT WERE BEING WORKED BY DIFFERENT SECTORS. I COORDINATED WITH THE NEXT SECTOR AND THE ACFT INVOLVED. I CLBED THE ACFT TO FL410 AND BECAME DISTRACTED BY OTHER DUTIES. ABOUT 20 SECS AFTER THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN I NOTICED I HAD ANOTHER ACFT AT FL410 EBND AND HEADS UP. CLOSEST POINT 3.7 MI, 1600'. I WAS WORKING BY MYSELF AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. I TRIED TO TAKE ON TOO MUCH BY MYSELF AND THIS LED TO LESS ATTN TO MY PRIMARY DUTIES.

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.