I90 controller reported near separation loss at 6000 ft when failing to correct a developing conflic...

Attributes
ACN	810057
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : i90.tracon
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar controller : military
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	810057
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

A PC12 departed hou northbound; and I climbed him to 13000 ft. I noticed he wasn't climbing that great; but there weren't any conflicts at the time. I was only working a few other aircraft; and I made a few coords on them and had to look up approach information on one of them. During that time; 2 arrival aircraft for iah arriving on the south downwind became a factor for the PC12 that was climbing out slowly. I hadn't watched closely enough as the conflict developed; but the final controller called me on the landline to say his aircraft had visual separation with mine. I wasn't even aware of what he was talking about until he came over the other aircraft at 7000 ft; 1000 ft apart. I don't know to what extent that separation was lost; but if I only had 1000 ft when the PC12 was over the E145; separation had to have been much less at their closest proximity. The other controller said he noticed my PC12 when he was only climbing out of 6300 ft and started calling traffic. Although I only had several aircraft on frequency; fatigue contributed to my lack of focus; preventing me from noticing and correcting these conflicting aircraft. I wasn't very busy; and under normal circumstances; I should've and would've been able to control the situation. ATC controller schedules and fatigue seriously need to be addressed!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: I90 CONTROLLER REPORTED NEAR SEPARATION LOSS AT 6000 FT WHEN FAILING TO CORRECT A DEVELOPING CONFLICT BETWEEN A DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL AIRCRAFT; LISTING FATIGUE AS CONTRIBUTORY.

Narrative: A PC12 DEPARTED HOU NBOUND; AND I CLBED HIM TO 13000 FT. I NOTICED HE WASN'T CLBING THAT GREAT; BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY CONFLICTS AT THE TIME. I WAS ONLY WORKING A FEW OTHER ACFT; AND I MADE A FEW COORDS ON THEM AND HAD TO LOOK UP APCH INFO ON ONE OF THEM. DURING THAT TIME; 2 ARR ACFT FOR IAH ARRIVING ON THE S DOWNWIND BECAME A FACTOR FOR THE PC12 THAT WAS CLBING OUT SLOWLY. I HADN'T WATCHED CLOSELY ENOUGH AS THE CONFLICT DEVELOPED; BUT THE FINAL CTLR CALLED ME ON THE LANDLINE TO SAY HIS ACFT HAD VISUAL SEPARATION WITH MINE. I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT UNTIL HE CAME OVER THE OTHER ACFT AT 7000 FT; 1000 FT APART. I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THAT SEPARATION WAS LOST; BUT IF I ONLY HAD 1000 FT WHEN THE PC12 WAS OVER THE E145; SEPARATION HAD TO HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS AT THEIR CLOSEST PROX. THE OTHER CTLR SAID HE NOTICED MY PC12 WHEN HE WAS ONLY CLBING OUT OF 6300 FT AND STARTED CALLING TFC. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAD SEVERAL ACFT ON FREQ; FATIGUE CONTRIBUTED TO MY LACK OF FOCUS; PREVENTING ME FROM NOTICING AND CORRECTING THESE CONFLICTING ACFT. I WASN'T VERY BUSY; AND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES; I SHOULD'VE AND WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO CTL THE SITUATION. ATC CTLR SCHEDULES AND FATIGUE SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

I90 controller reported near separation loss at 6000 ft when failing to correct a developing conflict between a departure and arrival aircraft; listing fatigue as contributory.