Cvg controller experienced a loss of separation event when issuing a descent clearance through an oc...

Narrative:

I was working all radar positions combined to the tower. The C182 was at 7;000 ft level and passing through my airspace. The A320 checked on my frequency with intentions of landing at cvg. I issued a heading of 310 and altitude of 8;000 ft. I was also performing controller in charge duties and dayton FSS had called with an inreq for an aircraft overdue to an airport in my airspace. I turned around to the tmu station trying to figure out how to work some of their equipment to see if I could locate that aircraft. The A320 asked for lower; I turned around; walked to my scope looked right at the situation and issued the A320 a decent to 3;000. I looked right at the scope and thought the two aircraft had passed. I was back at the tmu station when the conflict alert sounded. By the time I looked at the situation again I determined that the aircraft were going to miss but with a loss of separation. We have a piece of equipment here nicknamed the 'fish finder' which is what I was trying to find at the tmu station. I have not been trained on the use of this equipment so maybe if I had had that training then I would have been able to quickly help the FSS with their inreq and been paying closed attention to my traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CVG Controller experienced a loss of separation event when issuing a descent clearance through an occupied altitude; the reporter listing the distraction of assisting with an INREQ as a causal factor.

Narrative: I was working all RADAR positions combined to the Tower. The C182 was at 7;000 FT level and passing through my airspace. The A320 checked on my frequency with intentions of landing at CVG. I issued a heading of 310 and altitude of 8;000 FT. I was also performing CIC duties and Dayton FSS had called with an INREQ for an aircraft overdue to an airport in my airspace. I turned around to the TMU station trying to figure out how to work some of their equipment to see if I could locate that aircraft. The A320 asked for lower; I turned around; walked to my scope looked right at the situation and issued the A320 a decent to 3;000. I looked right at the scope and thought the two aircraft had passed. I was back at the TMU station when the Conflict Alert sounded. By the time I looked at the situation again I determined that the aircraft were going to miss but with a loss of separation. We have a piece of equipment here nicknamed the 'fish finder' which is what I was trying to find at the TMU station. I have not been trained on the use of this equipment so maybe if I had had that training then I would have been able to quickly help the FSS with their INREQ and been paying closed attention to my traffic.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	902663
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	CVG.Tower
State Reference	KY
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach Coordinator Departure Flight Data / Clearance Delivery Handoff / Assist
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Cvg controller experienced a loss of separation event when issuing a descent clearance through an occupied altitude; the reporter listing the distraction of assisting with an inreq as a causal factor.