ZID associate controller witnessed loss of separation during sequencing efforts for cvg.

Attributes
ACN	590850
Time
Date	200307
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pxv.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 135 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar other personnel other
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	590850
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
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
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 25200 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was called to track for the radar controller (who has only been certified at that sector for 2 months). He was working many inbound flts to cvg. WX was bad. Traffic delivering. He didn't realize the heading he put aircraft X on for spacing would make him traffic for aircraft Y who was swbound at FL280. When I brought the traffic to his attention, action (turns) was taken to separate them, but some confusion in the controller's phraseology (ie, 'make the turn tight') confused the pilot who asked 'make the right turn.' the pilot was then given a cardinal heading 'fly heading 090 degrees and make it a tight turn' which worked. The delay time in the pilot understanding and turning was crucial.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID ASSOCIATE CTLR WITNESSED LOSS OF SEPARATION DURING SEQUENCING EFFORTS FOR CVG.

Narrative: I WAS CALLED TO TRACK FOR THE RADAR CTLR (WHO HAS ONLY BEEN CERTIFIED AT THAT SECTOR FOR 2 MONTHS). HE WAS WORKING MANY INBOUND FLTS TO CVG. WX WAS BAD. TFC DELIVERING. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THE HEADING HE PUT ACFT X ON FOR SPACING WOULD MAKE HIM TFC FOR ACFT Y WHO WAS SWBOUND AT FL280. WHEN I BROUGHT THE TFC TO HIS ATTN, ACTION (TURNS) WAS TAKEN TO SEPARATE THEM, BUT SOME CONFUSION IN THE CTLR'S PHRASEOLOGY (IE, 'MAKE THE TURN TIGHT') CONFUSED THE PLT WHO ASKED 'MAKE THE R TURN.' THE PLT WAS THEN GIVEN A CARDINAL HEADING 'FLY HEADING 090 DEGS AND MAKE IT A TIGHT TURN' WHICH WORKED. THE DELAY TIME IN THE PLT UNDERSTANDING AND TURNING WAS CRUCIAL.

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.