Less than standard separation.

Attributes
ACN	288146
Time
Date	199411
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jnc
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 875
ASRS Report	288146
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	288955
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	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Our B-727 was in cruise flight at FL310, 79 DME east of jnc VORTAC when we were given instructions by ATC to turn right heading 360 degrees soon followed by 'cleared direct jnc.' the captain acknowledged our clearance and we resumed our conversation only to be interrupted by a concerned controller when he issued air carrier Y and air carrier Z aircraft to make a '90 degree right turn at once.' within a few seconds the same ATC controller instructed us with a high sense of urgency. 'Air carrier X, make an immediate right turn to 360 degrees and climb 1000 ft!' now! I disconnected the autoplt and turned right and climbed to FL320. ZDV handed us off to ZLC within a few mins and all that I think happened was that ZDV made a mistake and had 3 jets crossing at 1 point at the same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTSS.

Narrative: OUR B-727 WAS IN CRUISE FLT AT FL310, 79 DME E OF JNC VORTAC WHEN WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY ATC TO TURN R HDG 360 DEGS SOON FOLLOWED BY 'CLRED DIRECT JNC.' THE CAPT ACKNOWLEDGED OUR CLRNC AND WE RESUMED OUR CONVERSATION ONLY TO BE INTERRUPTED BY A CONCERNED CTLR WHEN HE ISSUED ACR Y AND ACR Z ACFT TO MAKE A '90 DEG R TURN AT ONCE.' WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE SAME ATC CTLR INSTRUCTED US WITH A HIGH SENSE OF URGENCY. 'ACR X, MAKE AN IMMEDIATE R TURN TO 360 DEGS AND CLB 1000 FT!' NOW! I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND TURNED R AND CLBED TO FL320. ZDV HANDED US OFF TO ZLC WITHIN A FEW MINS AND ALL THAT I THINK HAPPENED WAS THAT ZDV MADE A MISTAKE AND HAD 3 JETS XING AT 1 POINT AT THE SAME TIME.

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.