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

Attributes
ACN	136241
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
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
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	136241
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9600 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X, medium large transport, departed runway 16L. Tower departed air carrier Y large transport too soon. On initial contact with air carrier Y, sep already lost and I initiated 40 degree left turn. Both aircraft in clouds. Informed supervisor what was happening, called him over to position to see what I was doing to resolve problem. Supervisor called tower and said 'too tight.' no further action take to my knowledge. Tower thanked us for saving them. Local controller told me that he didn't expect air carrier X to climb so slowly, nor expect air carrier Y to climb so quickly. Tower under the gun to reduce delays at sea.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: ACR X, MLG, DEPARTED RWY 16L. TWR DEPARTED ACR Y LGT TOO SOON. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH ACR Y, SEP ALREADY LOST AND I INITIATED 40 DEGREE LEFT TURN. BOTH ACFT IN CLOUDS. INFORMED SUPVR WHAT WAS HAPPENING, CALLED HIM OVER TO POS TO SEE WHAT I WAS DOING TO RESOLVE PROB. SUPVR CALLED TWR AND SAID 'TOO TIGHT.' NO FURTHER ACTION TAKE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. TWR THANKED US FOR SAVING THEM. LCL CTLR TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T EXPECT ACR X TO CLB SO SLOWLY, NOR EXPECT ACR Y TO CLB SO QUICKLY. TWR UNDER THE GUN TO REDUCE DELAYS AT SEA.

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