Less than standard separation between military fgt and air carrier. Pilot altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	91596
Time
Date	198807
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sby
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	91596
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Fgt X was level at FL280. I issued climb to FL310, stating that there was traffic 12 O'clock and 30 miles, opposite direction at FL330, expect higher when you pass. I called traffic to fgt X again at 5 miles, he acknowledged with a 'tally ho.' for some reason unknown to me, fgt X climbed to FL320. Although I used standard phraseology, fgt X may have thought he was cleared to FL350 and stopped 1000 under the traffic (air carrier Y) for what he thought was standard sep. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter gave years of experience. Facility processed incident as pilot deviation. Reporter called traffic to both aircraft and they saw each other. Air carrier crew commented about large size of fgt. Reporter still unaware of why military pilot went above FL310.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN MIL FGT AND ACR. PLT ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: FGT X WAS LEVEL AT FL280. I ISSUED CLB TO FL310, STATING THAT THERE WAS TFC 12 O'CLOCK AND 30 MILES, OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT FL330, EXPECT HIGHER WHEN YOU PASS. I CALLED TFC TO FGT X AGAIN AT 5 MILES, HE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH A 'TALLY HO.' FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO ME, FGT X CLBED TO FL320. ALTHOUGH I USED STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY, FGT X MAY HAVE THOUGHT HE WAS CLRED TO FL350 AND STOPPED 1000 UNDER THE TFC (ACR Y) FOR WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS STANDARD SEP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR GAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. FAC PROCESSED INCIDENT AS PLT DEV. RPTR CALLED TFC TO BOTH ACFT AND THEY SAW EACH OTHER. ACR CREW COMMENTED ABOUT LARGE SIZE OF FGT. RPTR STILL UNAWARE OF WHY MIL PLT WENT ABOVE FL310.

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.