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

Attributes
ACN	187994
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vwv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
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
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	187994
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
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 : 21000 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X was at FL280 deviating north of course around thunderstorms. Air carrier Y was eastbound on J146 climbing to FL330. Air carrier X was changed to the det sector frequency because on the northwest heading he would have entered the det sector. However, 1 min after checking on the det frequency, air carrier X advised the controller he was turning which put the aircraft on a westerly heading and kept it in my sector. The det controller did not advise me of this fact. The sky associate radar controller, with my concurrence, approved air carrier Y climbing to FL330. When air carrier Y checked on frequency I scanned for traffic and noticed air carrier X and Y on converging courses. I issued a 30 degree right turn to air carrier Y and stopped the climb at FL270. The det sector turned air carrier X north. Separation was lost at 700 ft vertical and 3.5 mi lateral.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: ACR X WAS AT FL280 DEVIATING N OF COURSE AROUND TSTMS. ACR Y WAS EBOUND ON J146 CLBING TO FL330. ACR X WAS CHANGED TO THE DET SECTOR FREQ BECAUSE ON THE NW HDG HE WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE DET SECTOR. HOWEVER, 1 MIN AFTER CHKING ON THE DET FREQ, ACR X ADVISED THE CTLR HE WAS TURNING WHICH PUT THE ACFT ON A WESTERLY HDG AND KEPT IT IN MY SECTOR. THE DET CTLR DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THIS FACT. THE SKY ASSOCIATE RADAR CTLR, WITH MY CONCURRENCE, APPROVED ACR Y CLBING TO FL330. WHEN ACR Y CHKED ON FREQ I SCANNED FOR TFC AND NOTICED ACR X AND Y ON CONVERGING COURSES. I ISSUED A 30 DEG R TURN TO ACR Y AND STOPPED THE CLB AT FL270. THE DET SECTOR TURNED ACR X N. SEPARATION WAS LOST AT 700 FT VERT AND 3.5 MI LATERAL.

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.