Narrative:

I had just plugged into the D6 position. I was doing d-side functions when the event occurred. I understood the F18 to be a NORAC, so I checked with the previous sector to see if they had radio communications with the aircraft. The loss of separation occurred about 1 min after I signed on the position. ZNY discontinued taking handoffs from my sector around (jut prior to) the same time the event occurred. I do not know why the middletown sector stopped taking handoffs. Listening to the tape after the event, I heard the F18 check in (this was prior to me plugging in). It was level at FL230. The r-side issued a revised altitude to a B737-200 flight and on the tape B737-200 read it back, as did the F18. The F18 said FL230 for FL200, but I don't recall hearing the call sign being used in association with that. The r-side did not think she was talking to the F18. She did climb the B737-200 to make certain the 2 aircraft would not hit. It was a very unusual situation. The F18 descent started prior to me signing on the position.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC HDOF CTLR ASSUMES D-SIDE FUNCTIONS AS LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURS BTWN A B752 AND AN F18. R-SIDE CTLR MISSES WRONG ACFT READBACK.

Narrative: I HAD JUST PLUGGED INTO THE D6 POS. I WAS DOING D-SIDE FUNCTIONS WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED. I UNDERSTOOD THE F18 TO BE A NORAC, SO I CHKED WITH THE PREVIOUS SECTOR TO SEE IF THEY HAD RADIO COMS WITH THE ACFT. THE LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURRED ABOUT 1 MIN AFTER I SIGNED ON THE POS. ZNY DISCONTINUED TAKING HDOFS FROM MY SECTOR AROUND (JUT PRIOR TO) THE SAME TIME THE EVENT OCCURRED. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE MIDDLETOWN SECTOR STOPPED TAKING HDOFS. LISTENING TO THE TAPE AFTER THE EVENT, I HEARD THE F18 CHK IN (THIS WAS PRIOR TO ME PLUGGING IN). IT WAS LEVEL AT FL230. THE R-SIDE ISSUED A REVISED ALT TO A B737-200 FLT AND ON THE TAPE B737-200 READ IT BACK, AS DID THE F18. THE F18 SAID FL230 FOR FL200, BUT I DON'T RECALL HEARING THE CALL SIGN BEING USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THAT. THE R-SIDE DID NOT THINK SHE WAS TALKING TO THE F18. SHE DID CLB THE B737-200 TO MAKE CERTAIN THE 2 ACFT WOULD NOT HIT. IT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL SIT. THE F18 DSCNT STARTED PRIOR TO ME SIGNING ON THE POS.

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.