Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
FSS called for the departure of Aircraft X. I examined the flight plan to see if the 10;000 ft cruise altitude was safe. I thought that the aircraft would be departing northbound. The MEA (Minimum Enroute Altitude) northbound was 9;000 ft so I felt that the requested cruise of 10;000 ft was safe. I issued the clearance as filed. The aircraft called my frequency after departing and was not yet on radar. Under the assumption that the aircraft was proceeding northbound; I told the aircraft to report a point which was the boundary with the adjacent sector. Minutes later the pilot called and said if I still needed the position report since he was on the ODP (Obstruction Departure Procedure).At that point I had him on radar and told him the report was no longer necessary and I proceeded to radar identify him. I was busy with traffic in the southeast corner of my airspace which took my attention away. I went back a few minutes later to check on Aircraft X and noticed he was west of the airway nothland I asked if he was established on the airway. The pilot reported he was still on the ODP. I acknowledged and went back to my other traffic. I went back again minutes later and saw the aircraft was southbound. That is when I drew a route line and discovered that he filed the airway southwest bound.That is when I rechecked the MEA to discover it was 12;000 ft and he was in a 11;000 ft Minimum IFR Area. I immediately climbed him to 11;000 ft for the terrain. At no point did the MSAW (Minimum Safe Altitude warning) activate. I reevaluated the route for minimum altitudes. 11;000 ft was safe for the MIA; but the MEA on the airway would be 11;100 ft. I asked if the pilot if he would be able 12;000 ft. He said maybe. Since 11;000 ft was safe for the MIA I told him to expect to remain at 11;000 ft.For routes from small airports; I need to make a better evaluation and especially check the route once the flight plan has been activated while also drawing the route in the EDST.
Center Controller reported they did not recognize the route an aircraft filed placed it below the Minimum IFR Altitudes.