Less than standard separation. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	90989
Time
Date	198807
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tdt
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : v184
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 2
ASRS Report	90989
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

One aircraft was southbound over tdt at 10000'. The other was nwbnd towards eri at 11000'. The aircraft at 10000' said, 'I have my 110 traffic in sight and am requesting a VFR climb to 120 to get out of the chop.' I said, 'roger, climb and maintain 130,' and did not state maintain VFR 100-120. Therefore, the situation became a systems error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: ONE ACFT WAS SBND OVER TDT AT 10000'. THE OTHER WAS NWBND TOWARDS ERI AT 11000'. THE ACFT AT 10000' SAID, 'I HAVE MY 110 TFC IN SIGHT AND AM REQUESTING A VFR CLB TO 120 TO GET OUT OF THE CHOP.' I SAID, 'ROGER, CLB AND MAINTAIN 130,' AND DID NOT STATE MAINTAIN VFR 100-120. THEREFORE, THE SITUATION BECAME A SYSTEMS ERROR.

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.