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

Attributes
ACN	138456
Time
Date	199003
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lib
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : fwa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	138456
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

2 air carrier jets needed to be put behind air carrier X widebody transport for spacing to ewr first I had to adjust their speeds then vector, then both to the northwest (340 degrees) to go behind an air carrier crossing from left to right, then fit them in behind air carrier X. Light transport Y was well in front of and crossing the lib 056 degree right when the vectoring of the air carrier jets was taking place. Air carrier X caught light transport Y before he was clear of J208 (lib 056 degree right). Excessive vectors required for en route spacing 350 mi from destination create hazardous situations for controllers. Separation must share its importance with en route spacing. No overtime allowed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: 2 ACR JETS NEEDED TO BE PUT BEHIND ACR X WDB FOR SPACING TO EWR FIRST I HAD TO ADJUST THEIR SPDS THEN VECTOR, THEN BOTH TO THE NW (340 DEGS) TO GO BEHIND AN ACR XING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THEN FIT THEM IN BEHIND ACR X. LTT Y WAS WELL IN FRONT OF AND XING THE LIB 056 DEG R WHEN THE VECTORING OF THE ACR JETS WAS TAKING PLACE. ACR X CAUGHT LTT Y BEFORE HE WAS CLR OF J208 (LIB 056 DEG R). EXCESSIVE VECTORS REQUIRED FOR ENRTE SPACING 350 MI FROM DEST CREATE HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS FOR CTLRS. SEPARATION MUST SHARE ITS IMPORTANCE WITH ENRTE SPACING. NO OVERTIME ALLOWED.

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.