Cpr X had less than standard separation from cpr Y. Climb through occupied altitude. System error.

Attributes
ACN	198313
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar instruction : instructor
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	198313
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar instruction : trainee
Qualification	controller : developmental
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 16800 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was conducting training at calvert low (sector 11). Cpr X was swbound at 10000 ft. The data block had timed out after the 10 min allowance, following acceptance of handoff. The trainee accepted a handoff from ric approach at 9000 ft. After talking to cpr Y at 9000 the trainee climbed the aircraft to 17000 ft at the time of the transmission I was discussing a technical procedure with the supervisor. My eyes were off the scope for approximately 10 seconds and upon hearing the clearance I returned to my OJT responsibility, too late to avoid the inevitable. There were 6 aircraft on the scope and the trainee was not busy, which I felt afforded me the opportunity to discuss something pertinent with the supervisor. It appears as though an error in judgement was made.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR X HAD LTSS FROM CPR Y. CLB THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING TRAINING AT CALVERT LOW (SECTOR 11). CPR X WAS SWBOUND AT 10000 FT. THE DATA BLOCK HAD TIMED OUT AFTER THE 10 MIN ALLOWANCE, FOLLOWING ACCEPTANCE OF HDOF. THE TRAINEE ACCEPTED A HDOF FROM RIC APCH AT 9000 FT. AFTER TALKING TO CPR Y AT 9000 THE TRAINEE CLBED THE ACFT TO 17000 FT AT THE TIME OF THE XMISSION I WAS DISCUSSING A TECHNICAL PROC WITH THE SUPVR. MY EYES WERE OFF THE SCOPE FOR APPROX 10 SECONDS AND UPON HEARING THE CLRNC I RETURNED TO MY OJT RESPONSIBILITY, TOO LATE TO AVOID THE INEVITABLE. THERE WERE 6 ACFT ON THE SCOPE AND THE TRAINEE WAS NOT BUSY, WHICH I FELT AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SOMETHING PERTINENT WITH THE SUPVR. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH AN ERROR IN JUDGEMENT WAS MADE.

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.