Air carrier X had less than standard separation from air carrier Y.

Attributes
ACN	130802
Time
Date	198912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 727
ASRS Report	130802
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X was given direct ord 10000' by approach. About 20 mi southwest of ord we were cleared to 7000'. About 8.2 mi southwest of ord. Approach gave us a 360 degree heading, descend to 4000' and set up for a tight turn into runway 14R. After starting descent, crew saw air carrier Y departing runway 27L at chicago. We were still on 360 degree heading and 5 mi northwest of ord. Air carrier Y that departed ord was on a heading of approximately 330 degrees and converging on us. He looked to be level at 5000' or very close to it. We stopped our descent at 5740' MSL and began a slow climb. We asked approach what altitude we were cleared to and after some hesitation they responded 7000'. A minute later we were given our tight turn onto final for runway 14R at ord and landed west/O incident. We called approach on the ground and they were very hostile to us. At this point we do not know whether approach control or flight crew was at error, however all 3 crew members say they heard clearance to 4000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION FROM ACR Y.

Narrative: ACR X WAS GIVEN DIRECT ORD 10000' BY APCH. ABOUT 20 MI SW OF ORD WE WERE CLRED TO 7000'. ABOUT 8.2 MI SW OF ORD. APCH GAVE US A 360 DEG HDG, DSND TO 4000' AND SET UP FOR A TIGHT TURN INTO RWY 14R. AFTER STARTING DSCNT, CREW SAW ACR Y DEPARTING RWY 27L AT CHICAGO. WE WERE STILL ON 360 DEG HDG AND 5 MI NW OF ORD. ACR Y THAT DEPARTED ORD WAS ON A HDG OF APPROX 330 DEGS AND CONVERGING ON US. HE LOOKED TO BE LEVEL AT 5000' OR VERY CLOSE TO IT. WE STOPPED OUR DSCNT AT 5740' MSL AND BEGAN A SLOW CLB. WE ASKED APCH WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED TO AND AFTER SOME HESITATION THEY RESPONDED 7000'. A MINUTE LATER WE WERE GIVEN OUR TIGHT TURN ONTO FINAL FOR RWY 14R AT ORD AND LANDED W/O INCIDENT. WE CALLED APCH ON THE GND AND THEY WERE VERY HOSTILE TO US. AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER APCH CTL OR FLT CREW WAS AT ERROR, HOWEVER ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS SAY THEY HEARD CLRNC TO 4000'.

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