ATCT local controller failed to provide standard separation beween 2 departing aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	148421
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2800 msl bound upper : 2800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea tower : sea
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	148421
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Tower launched medium large transport X and medium large transport Y. Medium large transport Y was 2 mi behind medium large transport X on initial contact and at same altitude. I asked pilot if he was in clouds. Pilot replied, 'affirmative.' I turned medium large transport Y away from medium large transport X. I informed supervisor immediately. He looked at scope, called tower and said, 'runnin' a little tight, guys.' no further action taken or documented to my knowledge. I talked to tower controller later and he stated, 'you do it a hundred times and it works.' I replied, 'it almost always does,' but working at absolute minimums occasionally causes problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR FAILED TO PROVIDE STANDARD SEPARATION BEWEEN 2 DEPARTING ACFT.

Narrative: TWR LAUNCHED MLG X AND MLG Y. MLG Y WAS 2 MI BEHIND MLG X ON INITIAL CONTACT AND AT SAME ALT. I ASKED PLT IF HE WAS IN CLOUDS. PLT REPLIED, 'AFFIRMATIVE.' I TURNED MLG Y AWAY FROM MLG X. I INFORMED SUPVR IMMEDIATELY. HE LOOKED AT SCOPE, CALLED TWR AND SAID, 'RUNNIN' A LITTLE TIGHT, GUYS.' NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN OR DOCUMENTED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I TALKED TO TWR CTLR LATER AND HE STATED, 'YOU DO IT A HUNDRED TIMES AND IT WORKS.' I REPLIED, 'IT ALMOST ALWAYS DOES,' BUT WORKING AT ABSOLUTE MINIMUMS OCCASIONALLY CAUSES PROBS.

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.