Less than standard separation between 2 air carrier aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	91502
Time
Date	198807
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
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
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	91502
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	91494
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5500 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While on dca departure control and leveling at 5000', we were on assigned heading of 280 degrees. We were told to turn right to 360 degrees vector for climb. Breaking out of the scud, I saw air carrier Y at 11 O'clock, less than a mile. Notified ATC that we had traffic at 12 O'clock. When ATC was asked his altitude, they said he was leaving 5200' and climbing. This was not what I would call a near miss, but given the WX, someone was not where they should have been.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: WHILE ON DCA DEP CTL AND LEVELING AT 5000', WE WERE ON ASSIGNED HDG OF 280 DEGS. WE WERE TOLD TO TURN RIGHT TO 360 DEGS VECTOR FOR CLB. BREAKING OUT OF THE SCUD, I SAW ACR Y AT 11 O'CLOCK, LESS THAN A MILE. NOTIFIED ATC THAT WE HAD TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK. WHEN ATC WAS ASKED HIS ALT, THEY SAID HE WAS LEAVING 5200' AND CLBING. THIS WAS NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL A NEAR MISS, BUT GIVEN THE WX, SOMEONE WAS NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

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.