Less than standard separation between two air carrier aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	80007
Time
Date	198801
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : emi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 18
ASRS Report	80007
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 25800 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier Y climbing to FL210 was stopped at 160 for traffic at 170, which passed. Air carrier Y was then kept at 160. Air carrier X was descended to 170 until clear of traffic, then descended to 150 . Air carrier X was not out of 170 when clearance issued to stop at 170. No answer. Clearance given again. No answer. Turned air carrier Y from 320 degree to 250 degree heading. Clearance to air carrier X again with turn to 060 degree, no answer. Finally air carrier X answered and turned to 060 degree with climb back to 170. Aircraft passed 4.3 mi and 200' apart. Air carrier X did not respond to clearance. Possible lack of cockpit discipline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ACR ACFT.

Narrative: ACR Y CLIMBING TO FL210 WAS STOPPED AT 160 FOR TFC AT 170, WHICH PASSED. ACR Y WAS THEN KEPT AT 160. ACR X WAS DESCENDED TO 170 UNTIL CLEAR OF TFC, THEN DESCENDED TO 150 . ACR X WAS NOT OUT OF 170 WHEN CLRNC ISSUED TO STOP AT 170. NO ANSWER. CLRNC GIVEN AGAIN. NO ANSWER. TURNED ACR Y FROM 320 DEG TO 250 DEG HDG. CLRNC TO ACR X AGAIN WITH TURN TO 060 DEG, NO ANSWER. FINALLY ACR X ANSWERED AND TURNED TO 060 DEG WITH CLIMB BACK TO 170. ACFT PASSED 4.3 MI AND 200' APART. ACR X DID NOT RESPOND TO CLRNC. POSSIBLE LACK OF COCKPIT DISCIPLINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.