A departing air carrier overtook a previously released departure resulting in less than standard sep...

Attributes
ACN	115472
Time
Date	198907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea artcc : zob
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
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	115472
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 11700 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error

Narrative:

While working a busy departure session, air carrier Y overtook air carrier X 3 to 4 mi south of runway. I observed a ground speed of 230 KTS on air carrier Y, and a ground speed of 190 KTS on air carrier X. Both at the same altitude with air carrier Y climbing through air carrier X's altitude. I felt tower had told air carrier Y to 'maintain visual separation'. When I asked air carrier Y 'verify you have air carrier X in sight', pilot reported, 'I'm in the clouds'. I issued 'turn left immediately' and informed supervisor. TRACON supervisor talked to tower and it was determined that 'tower had a need to get traffic going because they were busy'. No system error, to my knowledge, was reported. No corrective action other than 'a talk with the tower controller'. You can only get so many deals under the carpet before someone notices it's lumpy. I'm getting tired of this nonsense. Who else can we (I) turn to?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DEPARTING ACR OVERTOOK A PREVIOUSLY RELEASED DEP RESULTING IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING A BUSY DEP SESSION, ACR Y OVERTOOK ACR X 3 TO 4 MI S OF RWY. I OBSERVED A GND SPEED OF 230 KTS ON ACR Y, AND A GND SPEED OF 190 KTS ON ACR X. BOTH AT THE SAME ALT WITH ACR Y CLIMBING THROUGH ACR X'S ALT. I FELT TWR HAD TOLD ACR Y TO 'MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION'. WHEN I ASKED ACR Y 'VERIFY YOU HAVE ACR X IN SIGHT', PLT REPORTED, 'I'M IN THE CLOUDS'. I ISSUED 'TURN LEFT IMMEDIATELY' AND INFORMED SUPVR. TRACON SUPVR TALKED TO TWR AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT 'TWR HAD A NEED TO GET TFC GOING BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSY'. NO SYSTEM ERROR, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WAS REPORTED. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION OTHER THAN 'A TALK WITH THE TWR CTLR'. YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY DEALS UNDER THE CARPET BEFORE SOMEONE NOTICES IT'S LUMPY. I'M GETTING TIRED OF THIS NONSENSE. WHO ELSE CAN WE (I) TURN TO?

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.

A departing air carrier overtook a previously released departure resulting in less than standard separation.