Omaha approach controller does not observe heading change of PA30 due to WX and other factors and the aircraft conflicts with PA28 on a converging course.

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Attributes
ACN	525613
Time
Date	200109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : r90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-30 Twin Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : r90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Experience	controller military : 1 controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 21
ASRS Report	525613
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

The PA30 was heading approximately 295 degrees when I assumed the radar position at 6000 ft. The PA28 was heading approximately 260 degrees going to mle airport, also at 6000 ft. I was working east radar, and west radar had 2 jets coming in and I was watching his traffic to see how best to give him the PA28 (on a heading or descending) then I noticed the PA30 almost heading 340 degrees and getting very close to the PA28. I descended the PA28 then turned him. I told the west controller to turn the PA30 (he was talking to him by now). I think the PA30 turned to avoid clouds even though he was on an IFR clearance. The PA30 asked for 8000 ft after this to get above the clouds. If the PA30 had stayed close to his original heading +/-10 degrees, it would not have been a problem, but 45 degrees right turn was not anticipated. Also, most of the turn occurred while the PA30 was under another tag of an overflt at 8000 ft from east to west, and I was unable to observe a change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OMAHA APCH CTLR DOES NOT OBSERVE HEADING CHANGE OF PA30 DUE TO WX AND OTHER FACTORS AND THE ACFT CONFLICTS WITH PA28 ON A CONVERGING COURSE.

Narrative: THE PA30 WAS HEADING APPROX 295 DEGS WHEN I ASSUMED THE RADAR POS AT 6000 FT. THE PA28 WAS HEADING APPROX 260 DEGS GOING TO MLE ARPT, ALSO AT 6000 FT. I WAS WORKING E RADAR, AND W RADAR HAD 2 JETS COMING IN AND I WAS WATCHING HIS TFC TO SEE HOW BEST TO GIVE HIM THE PA28 (ON A HEADING OR DSNDING) THEN I NOTICED THE PA30 ALMOST HEADING 340 DEGS AND GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THE PA28. I DSNDED THE PA28 THEN TURNED HIM. I TOLD THE W CTLR TO TURN THE PA30 (HE WAS TALKING TO HIM BY NOW). I THINK THE PA30 TURNED TO AVOID CLOUDS EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ON AN IFR CLRNC. THE PA30 ASKED FOR 8000 FT AFTER THIS TO GET ABOVE THE CLOUDS. IF THE PA30 HAD STAYED CLOSE TO HIS ORIGINAL HEADING +/-10 DEGS, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROB, BUT 45 DEGS R TURN WAS NOT ANTICIPATED. ALSO, MOST OF THE TURN OCCURRED WHILE THE PA30 WAS UNDER ANOTHER TAG OF AN OVERFLT AT 8000 FT FROM E TO W, AND I WAS UNABLE TO OBSERVE A CHANGE.

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.