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

Attributes
ACN	178486
Time
Date	199105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dxo
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent 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
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	178486
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was working the FD arrival sector to detroit at cle center. I had 2 arrs both descending to FL180 due to traffic I had at 17,000. I thought I had enough room and started tearing strips off my flight data printer and didn't notice the conflict alert go off. By then it was too late to keep my 5 mi separation. I should have asked for some D side help, and I could have paid more attention to the radar. The aircraft call signs were air carrier X and air carrier Y.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD LTSS FROM ACR Y. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE FD ARR SECTOR TO DETROIT AT CLE CENTER. I HAD 2 ARRS BOTH DSNDING TO FL180 DUE TO TFC I HAD AT 17,000. I THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM AND STARTED TEARING STRIPS OFF MY FLT DATA PRINTER AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE CONFLICT ALERT GO OFF. BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE TO KEEP MY 5 MI SEPARATION. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR SOME D SIDE HELP, AND I COULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTN TO THE RADAR. THE ACFT CALL SIGNS WERE ACR X AND ACR Y.

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.