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

Attributes
ACN	95659
Time
Date	198810
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ffu airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16750
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent 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
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	95659
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
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 : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 750
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were descending into slc and cleared by center to cross ffu at 17000' and 280 KTS. About 10 mi from ffu we were switched to 124.3, slc approach, and told to turn to 270 degrees, descend to 14000', and slow to 210 KTS. About 5 mi north of ffu we were turned to 340 degrees. At 16500' we were suddenly told to climb to 17000' and turn to 360 degrees. At that time controller also told air carrier Y to turn immediately to 310 degrees and descend (I believe to 13000'). I looked out to the left and saw medium large transport air carrier Y pass directly below about 500' to 1000' below. On the ground I talked to shift supervisor and he told me a trnee was on the radar and an instrument caught the mistake and ordered the evasive action. I think another 30 seconds, we would have been real close to a midair collision.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING INTO SLC AND CLRED BY CENTER TO CROSS FFU AT 17000' AND 280 KTS. ABOUT 10 MI FROM FFU WE WERE SWITCHED TO 124.3, SLC APCH, AND TOLD TO TURN TO 270 DEGS, DSND TO 14000', AND SLOW TO 210 KTS. ABOUT 5 MI N OF FFU WE WERE TURNED TO 340 DEGS. AT 16500' WE WERE SUDDENLY TOLD TO CLB TO 17000' AND TURN TO 360 DEGS. AT THAT TIME CTLR ALSO TOLD ACR Y TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO 310 DEGS AND DSND (I BELIEVE TO 13000'). I LOOKED OUT TO THE LEFT AND SAW MLG ACR Y PASS DIRECTLY BELOW ABOUT 500' TO 1000' BELOW. ON THE GND I TALKED TO SHIFT SUPVR AND HE TOLD ME A TRNEE WAS ON THE RADAR AND AN INSTR CAUGHT THE MISTAKE AND ORDERED THE EVASIVE ACTION. I THINK ANOTHER 30 SECS, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAL CLOSE TO A MIDAIR COLLISION.

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.