Approach controller failed to provide standard separation between two arriving aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	169394
Time
Date	199102
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	169394
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
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 : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

VFR day in pit. From approach control we were cleared from 10000' to 4000'. Read back clearance and set 4000' in altitude alert system. From a heading of 40 degree magnetic we were instructed to turn to a 90 degree heading. At this time we were told about an medium large transport Y aircraft at 11 O'clock at 5000'. At this time we were descending through about 6500'. Since this aircraft position was given at the beginning of the turn from 40 degree to 90 degree I expected the traffic to pass behind us, after we completed our turn to 90 degree. We spotted an aircraft at our 12 O'clock after turning to 90 degree. As we passed through 5400' approach control told us to climb to 6000' and turn left 20 degree. We complied. We landed west/O further incident. I contacted the approach control supervisor immediately upon landing. He said all was ok and we didn't need to take any further action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR FAILED TO PROVIDE STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ARRIVING ACFT.

Narrative: VFR DAY IN PIT. FROM APCH CTL WE WERE CLRED FROM 10000' TO 4000'. READ BACK CLRNC AND SET 4000' IN ALT ALERT SYS. FROM A HDG OF 40 DEG MAGNETIC WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO A 90 DEG HDG. AT THIS TIME WE WERE TOLD ABOUT AN MLG Y ACFT AT 11 O'CLOCK AT 5000'. AT THIS TIME WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH ABOUT 6500'. SINCE THIS ACFT POS WAS GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TURN FROM 40 DEG TO 90 DEG I EXPECTED THE TFC TO PASS BEHIND US, AFTER WE COMPLETED OUR TURN TO 90 DEG. WE SPOTTED AN ACFT AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK AFTER TURNING TO 90 DEG. AS WE PASSED THROUGH 5400' APCH CTL TOLD US TO CLB TO 6000' AND TURN L 20 DEG. WE COMPLIED. WE LANDED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE APCH CTL SUPVR IMMEDIATELY UPON LNDG. HE SAID ALL WAS OK AND WE DIDN'T NEED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION.

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.