Large transport on descent is stopped and vectored for traffic. Less than standard separation.

Attributes
ACN	233213
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tnp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 38000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 325 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	233213
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

ZLA cleared us to descend from FL390 to FL350. We started a descent of 1000 FPM. At approximately FL383, we were told by ZLA to turn immediately 20 degrees to the left and level at FL380, which we did. We were then told we had traffic at 1 O'clock at FL370. We did confirm this on the TCASII. We passed the traffic at approximately 1 1/2 - 2 NM horizontal distance and 1000 ft vertical distance. TCASII never gave us a conflict alert due to the 1000 FPM descent rate. ZLA did vector us back on course but did not change our altitude for several more mins. The controller was not replaced nor was the turn and level-off given by a supervisor. Possibly WX and traffic into lax could have been part of the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ON DSCNT IS STOPPED AND VECTORED FOR TFC. LTSS.

Narrative: ZLA CLRED US TO DSND FROM FL390 TO FL350. WE STARTED A DSCNT OF 1000 FPM. AT APPROX FL383, WE WERE TOLD BY ZLA TO TURN IMMEDIATELY 20 DEGS TO THE L AND LEVEL AT FL380, WHICH WE DID. WE WERE THEN TOLD WE HAD TFC AT 1 O'CLOCK AT FL370. WE DID CONFIRM THIS ON THE TCASII. WE PASSED THE TFC AT APPROX 1 1/2 - 2 NM HORIZ DISTANCE AND 1000 FT VERT DISTANCE. TCASII NEVER GAVE US A CONFLICT ALERT DUE TO THE 1000 FPM DSCNT RATE. ZLA DID VECTOR US BACK ON COURSE BUT DID NOT CHANGE OUR ALT FOR SEVERAL MORE MINS. THE CTLR WAS NOT REPLACED NOR WAS THE TURN AND LEVEL-OFF GIVEN BY A SUPVR. POSSIBLY WX AND TFC INTO LAX COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROB.

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.