Narrative:

Thunderstorms were present throughout the area. After working the sector for the first 30 mins it was evident no aircraft were staying on ATC assigned rtes due to the storms. Some aircraft were asking for vectors around the moderate to severe precipitation areas. The supervisor had been updated in detail of the situation and advised that a safe flow of air traffic was not available in the sector. Aircraft #1; sbound; was advised to deviate no more than 15 degrees left. Aircraft #2 (nnwbound) was issued a vector to the right to avoid aircraft #1. I advised aircraft #1 to not turn any further left because after watching target history it was evident aircraft #1 was turning as he saw fit. A collision was developing so I advised aircraft #1 to turn back to the right to avoid; the pilot of aircraft #1 refused the clearance. To avoid the collision I descended aircraft #1 rapidly a thousand ft. Even though I further turned aircraft #2 more to the right; I guess aircraft #1 took an additional 20-25 degrees of a turn on his own without ATC clearance. I attribute most of this unsafe situation to lack of action by supervisor and tmu. During the first 30 mins the supervisor was advised the sector was 'falling apart.' the second 30 mins the sector in fact 'fell apart.' the whole time no flow restrs or special rtes were issued or put out by anyone. It was left totally up to the sector team to work traffic; WX report; and try to maintain safety.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID CTLR DESCRIBED NEAR LOSS OF SEPARATION AT FL350 DURING BUSY AND COMPLEX TFC COMPLICATED BY WX DEVS AND LACK OF TFC FLOW RESTRS.

Narrative: TSTMS WERE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE AREA. AFTER WORKING THE SECTOR FOR THE FIRST 30 MINS IT WAS EVIDENT NO ACFT WERE STAYING ON ATC ASSIGNED RTES DUE TO THE STORMS. SOME ACFT WERE ASKING FOR VECTORS AROUND THE MODERATE TO SEVERE PRECIP AREAS. THE SUPVR HAD BEEN UPDATED IN DETAIL OF THE SIT AND ADVISED THAT A SAFE FLOW OF AIR TFC WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SECTOR. ACFT #1; SBOUND; WAS ADVISED TO DEVIATE NO MORE THAN 15 DEGS L. ACFT #2 (NNWBOUND) WAS ISSUED A VECTOR TO THE R TO AVOID ACFT #1. I ADVISED ACFT #1 TO NOT TURN ANY FURTHER L BECAUSE AFTER WATCHING TARGET HISTORY IT WAS EVIDENT ACFT #1 WAS TURNING AS HE SAW FIT. A COLLISION WAS DEVELOPING SO I ADVISED ACFT #1 TO TURN BACK TO THE R TO AVOID; THE PLT OF ACFT #1 REFUSED THE CLRNC. TO AVOID THE COLLISION I DSNDED ACFT #1 RAPIDLY A THOUSAND FT. EVEN THOUGH I FURTHER TURNED ACFT #2 MORE TO THE R; I GUESS ACFT #1 TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 20-25 DEGS OF A TURN ON HIS OWN WITHOUT ATC CLRNC. I ATTRIBUTE MOST OF THIS UNSAFE SIT TO LACK OF ACTION BY SUPVR AND TMU. DURING THE FIRST 30 MINS THE SUPVR WAS ADVISED THE SECTOR WAS 'FALLING APART.' THE SECOND 30 MINS THE SECTOR IN FACT 'FELL APART.' THE WHOLE TIME NO FLOW RESTRS OR SPECIAL RTES WERE ISSUED OR PUT OUT BY ANYONE. IT WAS LEFT TOTALLY UP TO THE SECTOR TEAM TO WORK TFC; WX RPT; AND TRY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.