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

Attributes
ACN	147404
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pih
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 36700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	147404
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 1700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was giving OJT on radar to a deviation controller with certification on 2 other radar sectors and 4 d-only sectors. Air carrier X, an large transport from sea to den at FL330, requested climb to FL370. His traffic was air carrier Y, an medium large transport iah to sea at FL350. At the time the climb clearance was given. They were approximately 70 mi apart head-on. When the mode C on air carrier X indicated a slow climb, the trnee told him to 'be level at FL370 in 2 mins.' air carrier X said that would be difficult, he was doing his best climb at 500 FPM. The trnee then told him to do the best you can. Soon after the trnee turned air carrier X left from a heading of 100 degrees to a heading of 050 degrees. I then told the trnee to turn the air carrier Y also. He then turned the air carrier Y 30 degrees left. I determined the turns were not enough for sep, and turned air carrier X left to 340 degrees and air carrier Y left to 180 degrees. They passed 4.0 mi apart with 1700' vertical. I feel contributing factors in this error were the slow climb rate and turn rate of air carrier X flight. The indecision of the trnee to take further steps when his original plan was not working, and my decision in a training situation to allow the trnee to try to solve the problem, and stepping in too late to correct the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: I WAS GIVING OJT ON RADAR TO A DEV CTLR WITH CERTIFICATION ON 2 OTHER RADAR SECTORS AND 4 D-ONLY SECTORS. ACR X, AN LGT FROM SEA TO DEN AT FL330, REQUESTED CLB TO FL370. HIS TFC WAS ACR Y, AN MLG IAH TO SEA AT FL350. AT THE TIME THE CLB CLRNC WAS GIVEN. THEY WERE APPROX 70 MI APART HEAD-ON. WHEN THE MODE C ON ACR X INDICATED A SLOW CLB, THE TRNEE TOLD HIM TO 'BE LEVEL AT FL370 IN 2 MINS.' ACR X SAID THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, HE WAS DOING HIS BEST CLB AT 500 FPM. THE TRNEE THEN TOLD HIM TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN. SOON AFTER THE TRNEE TURNED ACR X LEFT FROM A HDG OF 100 DEGS TO A HDG OF 050 DEGS. I THEN TOLD THE TRNEE TO TURN THE ACR Y ALSO. HE THEN TURNED THE ACR Y 30 DEGS LEFT. I DETERMINED THE TURNS WERE NOT ENOUGH FOR SEP, AND TURNED ACR X LEFT TO 340 DEGS AND ACR Y LEFT TO 180 DEGS. THEY PASSED 4.0 MI APART WITH 1700' VERT. I FEEL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS ERROR WERE THE SLOW CLB RATE AND TURN RATE OF ACR X FLT. THE INDECISION OF THE TRNEE TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS WHEN HIS ORIGINAL PLAN WAS NOT WORKING, AND MY DECISION IN A TRNING SITUATION TO ALLOW THE TRNEE TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROB, AND STEPPING IN TOO LATE TO CORRECT THE PROB.

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.