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

Attributes
ACN	145617
Time
Date	199005
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	145617
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	145693
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

An spc X departed nuq to the southeast. This route crosses with sjc arrs from the east over hyp. Due to the letter of agreement it was necessary to descend air carrier Y through the departing spc X. At the time of the incident there were more data blocks on the scope than I was able to manage. The 2 aircraft that lost sep were in C/a (data blocks blinking), but when working at a position with numerous VFR aircraft, you become accustomed to all the blinking and it tends to lose its relevance. Supplemental information from acn 145693: center asked air carrier Y to give them a good rate to maintain 8000'. Captain used speed brakes and 250 KTS (below 10000'). Out of 9500' controller told us to maintain 10000'. Captain stopped the descent and began a climb. I verified the controller wanted a climb to 10000'. While I transmitted, I observed traffic at 1 O'clock, slightly above us, converging. I pointed the traffic out to eh captain who elected to descend. I stated that to the controller who gave us an 'immediate turn.' the traffic, an mlt, went over us and slightly behind. At no time did the controller point out the traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: AN SPC X DEPARTED NUQ TO THE SE. THIS RTE CROSSES WITH SJC ARRS FROM THE E OVER HYP. DUE TO THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT IT WAS NECESSARY TO DSND ACR Y THROUGH THE DEPARTING SPC X. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THERE WERE MORE DATA BLOCKS ON THE SCOPE THAN I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE. THE 2 ACFT THAT LOST SEP WERE IN C/A (DATA BLOCKS BLINKING), BUT WHEN WORKING AT A POS WITH NUMEROUS VFR ACFT, YOU BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO ALL THE BLINKING AND IT TENDS TO LOSE ITS RELEVANCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 145693: CENTER ASKED ACR Y TO GIVE THEM A GOOD RATE TO MAINTAIN 8000'. CAPT USED SPD BRAKES AND 250 KTS (BELOW 10000'). OUT OF 9500' CTLR TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 10000'. CAPT STOPPED THE DSNT AND BEGAN A CLB. I VERIFIED THE CTLR WANTED A CLB TO 10000'. WHILE I XMITTED, I OBSERVED TFC AT 1 O'CLOCK, SLIGHTLY ABOVE US, CONVERGING. I POINTED THE TFC OUT TO EH CAPT WHO ELECTED TO DSND. I STATED THAT TO THE CTLR WHO GAVE US AN 'IMMEDIATE TURN.' THE TFC, AN MLT, WENT OVER US AND SLIGHTLY BEHIND. AT NO TIME DID THE CTLR POINT OUT THE TFC.

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.