ZDC controller lost separation between climbing and en route aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	578789
Time
Date	200304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 18 controller time certified in position1 : 15 flight time total : 125
ASRS Report	578789
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

The crj was climbing from a departure in new york, when the handoff was seen. The crj was out of FL284 climbing to FL310. The rate at that time was sufficient to clear the air carrier at FL290, about 80 mi head on. When the crj got to FL300, his rate of climb fell below 500 FPM. I issued a 25 degree turn left to both aircraft and called traffic. Both aircraft turned, but they were too close when action was taken. I did not realize that the temperature at altitude was warm, which reduces the crj's good rate of climb.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR LOST SEPARATION BTWN CLBING AND ENRTE ACFT.

Narrative: THE CRJ WAS CLBING FROM A DEP IN NEW YORK, WHEN THE HDOF WAS SEEN. THE CRJ WAS OUT OF FL284 CLBING TO FL310. THE RATE AT THAT TIME WAS SUFFICIENT TO CLR THE ACR AT FL290, ABOUT 80 MI HEAD ON. WHEN THE CRJ GOT TO FL300, HIS RATE OF CLB FELL BELOW 500 FPM. I ISSUED A 25 DEG TURN L TO BOTH ACFT AND CALLED TFC. BOTH ACFT TURNED, BUT THEY WERE TOO CLOSE WHEN ACTION WAS TAKEN. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE TEMP AT ALT WAS WARM, WHICH REDUCES THE CRJ'S GOOD RATE OF CLB.

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.