Air carrier X had less than standard separation from air carrier Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	142209
Time
Date	199004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mcn
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
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 : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 20
ASRS Report	142209
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 27780 vertical : 900
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X, inbound to atl, had been given a discretionary descent to FL240. Air carrier Y sebnd at FL290 was given climb to FL330. When I noticed air carrier X's altitude I realized that he hadn't started his descent and that he was a factor for air carrier Y. I turned air carrier Y 30 degree left and asked for a 'good' rate of turn. I then asked air carrier X to increase rate of descent. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter experience: 20 yrs radar. Conflict distance horizontal: 4.63 mi, vertical: 900'. Incident happened 10 mi southeast of mcn, GA. Conflict alert had activated. Reporter stated air carrier Y was slow to turn and did not make a standard rate turn when asked to increase his turn rate. Operational error was filed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION FROM ACR Y. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X, INBND TO ATL, HAD BEEN GIVEN A DISCRETIONARY DSNT TO FL240. ACR Y SEBND AT FL290 WAS GIVEN CLIMB TO FL330. WHEN I NOTICED ACR X'S ALT I REALIZED THAT HE HADN'T STARTED HIS DSNT AND THAT HE WAS A FACTOR FOR ACR Y. I TURNED ACR Y 30 DEG LEFT AND ASKED FOR A 'GOOD' RATE OF TURN. I THEN ASKED ACR X TO INCREASE RATE OF DSNT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER EXPERIENCE: 20 YRS RADAR. CONFLICT DISTANCE HORIZ: 4.63 MI, VERT: 900'. INCIDENT HAPPENED 10 MI SE OF MCN, GA. CONFLICT ALERT HAD ACTIVATED. REPORTER STATED ACR Y WAS SLOW TO TURN AND DID NOT MAKE A STANDARD RATE TURN WHEN ASKED TO INCREASE HIS TURN RATE. OPERATIONAL ERROR WAS FILED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.