Less than standard separation between two air carrier. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	99521
Time
Date	198812
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27600 msl bound upper : 28300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16
ASRS Report	99521
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 other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24600 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X was at FL280 en route pwm hnk J217 etg. Air carrier Y was at FL280 jfk J95 buf. Air carrier X was going direct to hnk and asked to go direct to etg. I advised him I would be unable because of traffic at his altitude. Air carrier Y had been cleared direct bgm because he overshot J95. Air carrier Y still did not appear to be flying direct to bgm so he was cleared direct to buf. I realized X was going to converge with Y so I turned X to a 210 degree heading. I also turned Y 15 degree left. I turned X further left to a 180 degree heading and descended him to FL260. I then climbed Y to FL290. Vertical and lateral separation was lost. Had 4.7 mi and 700' approximately. Should have taken action sooner. Shouldn't have expected pilots to comply with clearance as quickly as I would have liked.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ACR. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X WAS AT FL280 ENRTE PWM HNK J217 ETG. ACR Y WAS AT FL280 JFK J95 BUF. ACR X WAS GOING DIRECT TO HNK AND ASKED TO GO DIRECT TO ETG. I ADVISED HIM I WOULD BE UNABLE BECAUSE OF TFC AT HIS ALT. ACR Y HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT BGM BECAUSE HE OVERSHOT J95. ACR Y STILL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE FLYING DIRECT TO BGM SO HE WAS CLRED DIRECT TO BUF. I REALIZED X WAS GOING TO CONVERGE WITH Y SO I TURNED X TO A 210 DEG HEADING. I ALSO TURNED Y 15 DEG LEFT. I TURNED X FURTHER LEFT TO A 180 DEG HEADING AND DESCENDED HIM TO FL260. I THEN CLBED Y TO FL290. VERTICAL AND LATERAL SEPARATION WAS LOST. HAD 4.7 MI AND 700' APPROX. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION SOONER. SHOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED PLTS TO COMPLY WITH CLRNC AS QUICKLY AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED.

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.