ARTCC controller has less than standard separation with 2 aircraft coming from a non radar to radar ...

Attributes
ACN	316492
Time
Date	199509
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sie
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 39000 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Starlifter (C141)
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 3
ASRS Report	316492
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

H/C141-B24 champ B24 sie; LR35-A300 champ A300 bergh. The real problem was non radar controller did not catch only 4 mins converging at champ (based on pilot estimates). LR35 was earlier than his estimate so no time converging. Neither pilot reported seeing each other. I am concerned pilots rely too much on ATC and therefore don't scan for traffic on their own. I don't see how the LR35 could have missed seeing the C141 other than they just weren't looking. Aircraft not TCASII equipped, flying in non radar airspace should be extra vigilant with periodic scans for traffic. Mistakes within the ATC system will always occur. A pilot's awareness is his last defense against loss of separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR HAS LTSS WITH 2 ACFT COMING FROM A NON RADAR TO RADAR ENVIRONMENT.

Narrative: H/C141-B24 CHAMP B24 SIE; LR35-A300 CHAMP A300 BERGH. THE REAL PROB WAS NON RADAR CTLR DID NOT CATCH ONLY 4 MINS CONVERGING AT CHAMP (BASED ON PLT ESTIMATES). LR35 WAS EARLIER THAN HIS ESTIMATE SO NO TIME CONVERGING. NEITHER PLT RPTED SEEING EACH OTHER. I AM CONCERNED PLTS RELY TOO MUCH ON ATC AND THEREFORE DON'T SCAN FOR TFC ON THEIR OWN. I DON'T SEE HOW THE LR35 COULD HAVE MISSED SEEING THE C141 OTHER THAN THEY JUST WEREN'T LOOKING. ACFT NOT TCASII EQUIPPED, FLYING IN NON RADAR AIRSPACE SHOULD BE EXTRA VIGILANT WITH PERIODIC SCANS FOR TFC. MISTAKES WITHIN THE ATC SYSTEM WILL ALWAYS OCCUR. A PLT'S AWARENESS IS HIS LAST DEFENSE AGAINST LOSS OF SEPARATION.

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.

ARTCC controller has less than standard separation with 2 aircraft coming from a non radar to radar environment.