Operational error. Loss of standard separation between air carrier X and air carrier Y.

Attributes
ACN	281375
Time
Date	199408
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : yyt
State Reference	NF
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar other personnel other
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	281375
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar other personnel other
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

The required minimum separation for this longitudinal situation with an undefined point is 15 mins. This situation was not recognized by the previous controller to me and was not pointed out to me in the briefing. It should have been recognized and a warning symbol put on the southwest strips. It was also not recognized by me when I took over the sector. I had approximately 20 mins with moderate to heavy traffic to notice the situation before the aircraft lost separation. The controller before me had an hour to see it and do the coordination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPERROR. LOSS OF STANDARD SEPARATION BTWN ACR X AND ACR Y.

Narrative: THE REQUIRED MINIMUM SEPARATION FOR THIS LONGITUDINAL SIT WITH AN UNDEFINED POINT IS 15 MINS. THIS SIT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE PREVIOUS CTLR TO ME AND WAS NOT POINTED OUT TO ME IN THE BRIEFING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND A WARNING SYMBOL PUT ON THE SW STRIPS. IT WAS ALSO NOT RECOGNIZED BY ME WHEN I TOOK OVER THE SECTOR. I HAD APPROX 20 MINS WITH MODERATE TO HVY TFC TO NOTICE THE SIT BEFORE THE ACFT LOST SEPARATION. THE CTLR BEFORE ME HAD AN HR TO SEE IT AND DO THE COORD.

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.