Ord local controller experienced operational error at 5000 ft when departure aircraft overtook preceding departure aircraft.

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Attributes
ACN	701635
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Experience	controller limited radar : 25 controller military : 5 controller time certified in position1 : 10 controller time certified in position2 : 10 flight time total : 100
ASRS Report	701635
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 22000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Working 3 local control position from 32L T-10. Lots of departures waiting; including cargo flight from runway 32L full length. I planned to go with air carrier Y B772; then air carrier X DC10; then release runway 32L to south local for the full length departure. Air carrier Y didn't have 'weights;' so I changed plan: clear air carrier X; then release full length. Then air carrier Y got 'weights.' I cleared air carrier Y for takeoff with air carrier X about 1/2 - 3/4 mi off departure end. Air carrier X climbed rapidly with slower ground speed than I anticipated. Air carrier Y was less than 4 mi behind air carrier X. Factor 1: changing plan. I'd taken air carrier X's speed into consideration when first setting sequence; but not when things (air carrier Y not ready; then ready) changed. Factor 2: I didn't turn air carrier Y because of the 32L fl departure that I'd released that would be turning to the northeast. Factor 3: debris on runway 4R led to multiple missed approachs. I thought that was pulling away fast enough and; therefore; the least of the problems we were facing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ORD LCL CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AT 5000 FT WHEN DEP ACFT OVERTOOK PRECEDING DEP ACFT.

Narrative: WORKING 3 LCL CTL POS FROM 32L T-10. LOTS OF DEPS WAITING; INCLUDING CARGO FLT FROM RWY 32L FULL LENGTH. I PLANNED TO GO WITH ACR Y B772; THEN ACR X DC10; THEN RELEASE RWY 32L TO S LCL FOR THE FULL LENGTH DEP. ACR Y DIDN'T HAVE 'WTS;' SO I CHANGED PLAN: CLR ACR X; THEN RELEASE FULL LENGTH. THEN ACR Y GOT 'WTS.' I CLRED ACR Y FOR TKOF WITH ACR X ABOUT 1/2 - 3/4 MI OFF DEP END. ACR X CLBED RAPIDLY WITH SLOWER GND SPD THAN I ANTICIPATED. ACR Y WAS LESS THAN 4 MI BEHIND ACR X. FACTOR 1: CHANGING PLAN. I'D TAKEN ACR X'S SPD INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN FIRST SETTING SEQUENCE; BUT NOT WHEN THINGS (ACR Y NOT READY; THEN READY) CHANGED. FACTOR 2: I DIDN'T TURN ACR Y BECAUSE OF THE 32L FL DEP THAT I'D RELEASED THAT WOULD BE TURNING TO THE NE. FACTOR 3: DEBRIS ON RWY 4R LED TO MULTIPLE MISSED APCHS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS PULLING AWAY FAST ENOUGH AND; THEREFORE; THE LEAST OF THE PROBS WE WERE FACING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.