Narrative:

I was the radar controller, very inexperienced radar associate (not fpl) very heavy WX, with many WX deviations. Controller next to me (happens to be a supervisor) yelled at supervisor in charge to stop departures, sector was 'red.' the supervisor in charge elected to tell underlying sector to 'keep them flashing' (continue handoff status to me). I was having to find and deconflict all traffic, and do coordination due to my radar associate's lack of experience. Most coordination he did do, had to be directed by me. I started aircraft X down later than usual and decided to re-sequence. Aircraft Y had already been shipped to the low sector at FL240 (aircraft X was turning inside aircraft Y, they were both at FL240). I asked for and received lower on aircraft X (FL180 granted). I turned aircraft X from a 070 degree heading left to a 240 degree heading. Told him keep the turn tight -- started to descend aircraft X, noticed the low sector had traffic at FL230 which meant I could not descend aircraft X (the traffic at FL230 should have been mentioned in earlier coordination). Attention diverted to another situation regarding slow climbing aircraft. Another controller at another sector (not my d-side!) brought to my attention aircraft X/aircraft Y conflict. I tried to climb aircraft X to FL250, but the aircraft descended for a TCASII advisory. Meanwhile the low sector controller was descending and expediting aircraft Y for aircraft X. They descended together and got close at about FL220. IFR WX, the supervisor should have implemented flow control to departure and outlying sectors, should have directed absolutely no handoffs to a 'red' sector, should have had 2 experienced journeymen, with an overhead in position. I told him later I didn't appreciate the situation he handed me. ATC is not a 1-MAN show!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLA CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT FL240.

Narrative: I WAS THE RADAR CTLR, VERY INEXPERIENCED RADAR ASSOCIATE (NOT FPL) VERY HVY WX, WITH MANY WX DEVS. CTLR NEXT TO ME (HAPPENS TO BE A SUPVR) YELLED AT SUPVR IN CHARGE TO STOP DEPS, SECTOR WAS 'RED.' THE SUPVR IN CHARGE ELECTED TO TELL UNDERLYING SECTOR TO 'KEEP THEM FLASHING' (CONTINUE HDOF STATUS TO ME). I WAS HAVING TO FIND AND DECONFLICT ALL TFC, AND DO COORD DUE TO MY RADAR ASSOCIATE'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE. MOST COORD HE DID DO, HAD TO BE DIRECTED BY ME. I STARTED ACFT X DOWN LATER THAN USUAL AND DECIDED TO RE-SEQUENCE. ACFT Y HAD ALREADY BEEN SHIPPED TO THE LOW SECTOR AT FL240 (ACFT X WAS TURNING INSIDE ACFT Y, THEY WERE BOTH AT FL240). I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED LOWER ON ACFT X (FL180 GRANTED). I TURNED ACFT X FROM A 070 DEG HDG L TO A 240 DEG HDG. TOLD HIM KEEP THE TURN TIGHT -- STARTED TO DSND ACFT X, NOTICED THE LOW SECTOR HAD TFC AT FL230 WHICH MEANT I COULD NOT DSND ACFT X (THE TFC AT FL230 SHOULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN EARLIER COORD). ATTN DIVERTED TO ANOTHER SIT REGARDING SLOW CLBING ACFT. ANOTHER CTLR AT ANOTHER SECTOR (NOT MY D-SIDE!) BROUGHT TO MY ATTN ACFT X/ACFT Y CONFLICT. I TRIED TO CLB ACFT X TO FL250, BUT THE ACFT DSNDED FOR A TCASII ADVISORY. MEANWHILE THE LOW SECTOR CTLR WAS DSNDING AND EXPEDITING ACFT Y FOR ACFT X. THEY DSNDED TOGETHER AND GOT CLOSE AT ABOUT FL220. IFR WX, THE SUPVR SHOULD HAVE IMPLEMENTED FLOW CTL TO DEP AND OUTLYING SECTORS, SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED ABSOLUTELY NO HDOFS TO A 'RED' SECTOR, SHOULD HAVE HAD 2 EXPERIENCED JOURNEYMEN, WITH AN OVERHEAD IN POS. I TOLD HIM LATER I DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE SIT HE HANDED ME. ATC IS NOT A 1-MAN SHOW!

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.