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

Attributes
ACN	144870
Time
Date	199005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bna
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : las
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	144870
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	unspecified : 2400 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Small transport X was departing with light transport Y landing on the same runway behind. Both were properly authority/authorized for takeoff and landing, respectively. Distrs in the tower diverted my attention and light transport Y landed behind the small transport X with less than prescribed sep (as per FAA handbook 7110.65). The situation was noticed by another controller and brought to my attention as light transport Y was very short final. At that time I decided it was too late for light transport Y to make a missed approach and allowed him to land west/O attempting a go around. My decision was based on the decision that it was safer to allow the landing than to have the light transport overtake the small transport in the air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: SMT X WAS DEPARTING WITH LTT Y LNDG ON THE SAME RWY BEHIND. BOTH WERE PROPERLY AUTH FOR TKOF AND LNDG, RESPECTIVELY. DISTRS IN THE TWR DIVERTED MY ATTN AND LTT Y LANDED BEHIND THE SMT X WITH LESS THAN PRESCRIBED SEP (AS PER FAA HANDBOOK 7110.65). THE SITUATION WAS NOTICED BY ANOTHER CTLR AND BROUGHT TO MY ATTN AS LTT Y WAS VERY SHORT FINAL. AT THAT TIME I DECIDED IT WAS TOO LATE FOR LTT Y TO MAKE A MISSED APCH AND ALLOWED HIM TO LAND W/O ATTEMPTING A GAR. MY DECISION WAS BASED ON THE DECISION THAT IT WAS SAFER TO ALLOW THE LNDG THAN TO HAVE THE LTT OVERTAKE THE SMT IN THE AIR.

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.