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

Attributes
ACN	206230
Time
Date	199203
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : srq
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : srq
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise 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
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 5
ASRS Report	206230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

While working local control at sarasota-bradenton ATC tower, during a busy period, I took a silent (radar) point out on small aircraft X nwbound along the coast line. At the time, I perceived this aircraft to be VFR at 3000 en route to pie. I remarked to the supervisor that I didn't really need a VFR point out. I cleared air carrier Y for takeoff runway 32. From both radar and visual reference, I determined that there was no confliction between air carrier Y and small aircraft X, who I believed to be VFR, and switched air carrier X to tpa approach. Tpa then reported the aircraft passed within 5000 horizontally and 200 ft vertically 4 1/2 northwest of srq. Had I realized that small aircraft X was IFR and not VFR, I would have restr air carrier Y to 2000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: WHILE WORKING LCL CTL AT SARASOTA-BRADENTON ATC TWR, DURING A BUSY PERIOD, I TOOK A SILENT (RADAR) POINT OUT ON SMA X NWBOUND ALONG THE COAST LINE. AT THE TIME, I PERCEIVED THIS ACFT TO BE VFR AT 3000 ENRTE TO PIE. I REMARKED TO THE SUPVR THAT I DIDN'T REALLY NEED A VFR POINT OUT. I CLRED ACR Y FOR TKOF RWY 32. FROM BOTH RADAR AND VISUAL REF, I DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICTION BTWN ACR Y AND SMA X, WHO I BELIEVED TO BE VFR, AND SWITCHED ACR X TO TPA APCH. TPA THEN RPTED THE ACFT PASSED WITHIN 5000 HORIZLY AND 200 FT VERTICALLY 4 1/2 NW OF SRQ. HAD I REALIZED THAT SMA X WAS IFR AND NOT VFR, I WOULD HAVE RESTR ACR Y TO 2000 FT.

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.