ZTL experienced a loss of separation at 4000 ft as departure from athens was early in starting turn.

Attributes
ACN	641644
Time
Date	200412
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ahn.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hercules (C-130)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 15
ASRS Report	641644
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft X was cleared off athens on runway heading climbing to 3000 ft. He was then climbed to 9000 ft. He then asked to turn south on course. He was told leaving 5000 ft to turn south. He claimed he wasn't cleared above 3000 ft. The clearance to 9000 ft was restated and again he was told to turn on course leaving 5000 ft. I observed him turning south prior to leaving 5000 ft. I turned him back left to a 030 degree heading. I then established visual separation and reclred him on course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF SEPARATION AT 4000 FT AS DEP FROM ATHENS WAS EARLY IN STARTING TURN.

Narrative: ACFT X WAS CLRED OFF ATHENS ON RWY HDG CLBING TO 3000 FT. HE WAS THEN CLBED TO 9000 FT. HE THEN ASKED TO TURN S ON COURSE. HE WAS TOLD LEAVING 5000 FT TO TURN S. HE CLAIMED HE WASN'T CLRED ABOVE 3000 FT. THE CLRNC TO 9000 FT WAS RESTATED AND AGAIN HE WAS TOLD TO TURN ON COURSE LEAVING 5000 FT. I OBSERVED HIM TURNING S PRIOR TO LEAVING 5000 FT. I TURNED HIM BACK L TO A 030 DEG HDG. I THEN ESTABLISHED VISUAL SEPARATION AND RECLRED HIM ON COURSE.

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.