ZID associate controller observed operational error at FL350 when wrong direction turn was issued.

Attributes
ACN	609819
Time
Date	200402
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hvq.vortac
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tower : mdt.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
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	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar controller : military controller : developmental
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 4 controller supervisory : 8 controller time certified in position2 : 3
ASRS Report	609819
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 flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

During the initial phase I was busy with radar associate duties. The radar controller issued a right turn rather than a left turn to one of the aircraft. The right turn turned the aircraft into his traffic rather than away. Had the correct turn been issued, no problem would have occurred. Traffic had been moderately busy for approximately 25 mins. Supervisor brought conflict to our attention. Radar controller had to reissue new control instructions several times because the aircraft did not respond to the first two. The aircraft finally responded stating he did not hear the other xmissions because of people calling from the back of the aircraft. The other aircraft was turned in a more timely manner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID ASSOCIATE CTLR OBSERVED OPERROR AT FL350 WHEN WRONG DIRECTION TURN WAS ISSUED.

Narrative: DURING THE INITIAL PHASE I WAS BUSY WITH RADAR ASSOCIATE DUTIES. THE RADAR CTLR ISSUED A R TURN RATHER THAN A L TURN TO ONE OF THE ACFT. THE R TURN TURNED THE ACFT INTO HIS TFC RATHER THAN AWAY. HAD THE CORRECT TURN BEEN ISSUED, NO PROB WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. TFC HAD BEEN MODERATELY BUSY FOR APPROX 25 MINS. SUPVR BROUGHT CONFLICT TO OUR ATTN. RADAR CTLR HAD TO REISSUE NEW CTL INSTRUCTIONS SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE FIRST TWO. THE ACFT FINALLY RESPONDED STATING HE DID NOT HEAR THE OTHER XMISSIONS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE CALLING FROM THE BACK OF THE ACFT. THE OTHER ACFT WAS TURNED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

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.