Controller reports less than the applicable separation minima resulted between 2 aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	421598
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ekn
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : ilm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 29
ASRS Report	421598
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 27000 vertical : 900
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I had issued a climb to a third aircraft, a B757, to climb to FL350. Later when I could wait no longer for the B757 to level above his traffic, a DC9 at FL330, I descended the DC9 to FL290 and asked for expeditious descent to get under climbing traffic and traffic level at FL310. I had enough time and distance to do this, I thought. The DC9, cargo, after 2 mins 30 seconds, had descended 800 ft. Not even standard rate. Turns were issued to the DC9 and the B737 (who was at FL310). All too little, too late. I expected better performance out of the DC9, and I waited too long to issue turns and/or other instructions. Controller 'a' got it again. This is my first deal in 15 yrs. A good wake up call for me. Reach out, make moves early. On the pilot's side -- it was as clear as a bell. Everybody saw everybody, no surprises, except for mine!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR RPTS LESS THAN THE APPLICABLE SEPARATION MINIMA RESULTED BTWN 2 ACFT.

Narrative: I HAD ISSUED A CLB TO A THIRD ACFT, A B757, TO CLB TO FL350. LATER WHEN I COULD WAIT NO LONGER FOR THE B757 TO LEVEL ABOVE HIS TFC, A DC9 AT FL330, I DSNDED THE DC9 TO FL290 AND ASKED FOR EXPEDITIOUS DSCNT TO GET UNDER CLBING TFC AND TFC LEVEL AT FL310. I HAD ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO DO THIS, I THOUGHT. THE DC9, CARGO, AFTER 2 MINS 30 SECONDS, HAD DSNDED 800 FT. NOT EVEN STANDARD RATE. TURNS WERE ISSUED TO THE DC9 AND THE B737 (WHO WAS AT FL310). ALL TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. I EXPECTED BETTER PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE DC9, AND I WAITED TOO LONG TO ISSUE TURNS AND/OR OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. CTLR 'A' GOT IT AGAIN. THIS IS MY FIRST DEAL IN 15 YRS. A GOOD WAKE UP CALL FOR ME. REACH OUT, MAKE MOVES EARLY. ON THE PLT'S SIDE -- IT WAS AS CLR AS A BELL. EVERYBODY SAW EVERYBODY, NO SURPRISES, EXCEPT FOR MINE!

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.