Y90 controller experienced operational error at 8000 ft with descending and cruise aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	628147
Time
Date	200408
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl.airport
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : y90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : y90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 310/T310C
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	628147
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	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Was working a busy session. At best, 10 aircraft on frequency. Descended the B737 through the altitude of the C310. B737 did not descend as quickly as normal. Also, TRACON was short staffed and supervisor was working a position and wasn't able to offer assistance in his role as supervisor. I did not see the situation until it was too late to do anything. Aircraft never would have hit each other, however.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Y90 CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT 8000 FT WITH DSNDING AND CRUISE ACFT.

Narrative: WAS WORKING A BUSY SESSION. AT BEST, 10 ACFT ON FREQ. DSNDED THE B737 THROUGH THE ALT OF THE C310. B737 DID NOT DSND AS QUICKLY AS NORMAL. ALSO, TRACON WAS SHORT STAFFED AND SUPVR WAS WORKING A POS AND WASN'T ABLE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE IN HIS ROLE AS SUPVR. I DID NOT SEE THE SIT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING. ACFT NEVER WOULD HAVE HIT EACH OTHER, HOWEVER.

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.