Cpr X descent through occupied altitude had less than standard separation from mlt. System error.

Attributes
ACN	217419
Time
Date	199208
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fmn
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 24300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 2
ASRS Report	217419
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 7200 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Wbound cpr X at FL260 and an eastbound mlt at FL250. Cpr X given pilots discretion descent to FL240 landing at farmington regional airport. Cpr X reports leaving FL260 for FL240. I issue a rerte to another aircraft and begin to sequence suspense flight strips before entering the amended route into the computer. I turn back to the radar and notice the conflict alert and the aircraft's proximity. In a haste to resolve the situation I start to issue a turn but transpose the call sign and stop. The pilot asks about the traffic and I acknowledge and issue a climb to FL260 not in time to achieve proper separation. Closest proximity was 1.2 NM and 300 ft vertical separation. Time on position to operational error was 13 mins 3 aircraft on frequency. The error was caused by a haste to get lower priority duties accomplished rather than keeping vigilant as I would be if I was considerably busy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR X DSCNT THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT HAD LTSS FROM MLT. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: WBOUND CPR X AT FL260 AND AN EBOUND MLT AT FL250. CPR X GIVEN PLTS DISCRETION DSCNT TO FL240 LNDG AT FARMINGTON REGIONAL ARPT. CPR X RPTS LEAVING FL260 FOR FL240. I ISSUE A RERTE TO ANOTHER ACFT AND BEGIN TO SEQUENCE SUSPENSE FLT STRIPS BEFORE ENTERING THE AMENDED RTE INTO THE COMPUTER. I TURN BACK TO THE RADAR AND NOTICE THE CONFLICT ALERT AND THE ACFT'S PROX. IN A HASTE TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION I START TO ISSUE A TURN BUT TRANSPOSE THE CALL SIGN AND STOP. THE PLT ASKS ABOUT THE TFC AND I ACKNOWLEDGE AND ISSUE A CLB TO FL260 NOT IN TIME TO ACHIEVE PROPER SEPARATION. CLOSEST PROX WAS 1.2 NM AND 300 FT VERT SEPARATION. TIME ON POS TO OPERROR WAS 13 MINS 3 ACFT ON FREQ. THE ERROR WAS CAUSED BY A HASTE TO GET LOWER PRIORITY DUTIES ACCOMPLISHED RATHER THAN KEEPING VIGILANT AS I WOULD BE IF I WAS CONSIDERABLY BUSY.

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.