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

Attributes
ACN	208129
Time
Date	199204
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar controller : developmental
Experience	controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	208129
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 27000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X departed phl and climbed to FL230 direct to EMI VORTAC. 1 min later, a handoff was taken on a lifeguard Y approximately over EMI flying direct to phl airport descending from FL310 to FL240. My original plan was to turn air carrier X to a 250 degree heading and climb to FL290, having the Y go behind air carrier X after flying a 250 degree heading for 1 min. I turned air carrier X to a 280 degree which I felt would accomplish my goal to keep him climbing and the lifeguard descending into phl. Clearance to Y was given for descent. I then gave clrncs to other aircraft, then addressed air carrier X and lifeguard Y, realized they were coming closer and turned air carrier X to a 320 degree heading and Y to a 100 degree heading. At this time, the aircraft passed 4 1/2 mi.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: ACR X DEPARTED PHL AND CLBED TO FL230 DIRECT TO EMI VORTAC. 1 MIN LATER, A HDOF WAS TAKEN ON A LIFEGUARD Y APPROX OVER EMI FLYING DIRECT TO PHL ARPT DSNDING FROM FL310 TO FL240. MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO TURN ACR X TO A 250 DEG HDG AND CLB TO FL290, HAVING THE Y GO BEHIND ACR X AFTER FLYING A 250 DEG HDG FOR 1 MIN. I TURNED ACR X TO A 280 DEG WHICH I FELT WOULD ACCOMPLISH MY GOAL TO KEEP HIM CLBING AND THE LIFEGUARD DSNDING INTO PHL. CLRNC TO Y WAS GIVEN FOR DSCNT. I THEN GAVE CLRNCS TO OTHER ACFT, THEN ADDRESSED ACR X AND LIFEGUARD Y, REALIZED THEY WERE COMING CLOSER AND TURNED ACR X TO A 320 DEG HDG AND Y TO A 100 DEG HDG. AT THIS TIME, THE ACFT PASSED 4 1/2 MI.

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.