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

Attributes
ACN	154662
Time
Date	199008
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bkw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 10 controller supervisory : 20
ASRS Report	154662
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance 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 : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Very busy en route sector, WX in and around the sector, aircraft deviating. 20+ aircraft in the sector, 2 de's marlington sector refuses to accept 2 aircraft on the boundary telling us to 'spin them'. In an effort to keep these two in the sector, air carrier X turned but air carrier Y refused because of WX. Both aircraft at FL290. Air carrier Y was descended to FL280, but not soon enough.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: VERY BUSY ENRTE SECTOR, WX IN AND AROUND THE SECTOR, ACFT DEVIATING. 20+ ACFT IN THE SECTOR, 2 DE'S MARLINGTON SECTOR REFUSES TO ACCEPT 2 ACFT ON THE BOUNDARY TELLING US TO 'SPIN THEM'. IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THESE TWO IN THE SECTOR, ACR X TURNED BUT ACR Y REFUSED BECAUSE OF WX. BOTH ACFT AT FL290. ACR Y WAS DSNDED TO FL280, BUT NOT SOON ENOUGH.

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.