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

Attributes
ACN	150530
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cae
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	150530
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	150532
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 28200 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X climbing to cae low sector. Cae low had aircraft Y at FL230 south of cae but normal climb rates for the air carrier X would have meant there was not a conflict. Air carrier X at times climbed at only 200 FPM, I was distraction from watching the data block. Conflict alert activated and turns were issued to both aircraft but less than 5 mi resulted at closest point with only 300' vertical. Should watch climb rates pilot should advise of nonstandard performance. Supplemental information from acn 150532. Atl low altitude called with handoff air carrier X stating stopped at FL230 and will get release higher. I told them I would get release from clt high. Clt released air carrier X and the radar controller giving climb instruction to FL280. Conflict alert went off showing aircraft Y at FL230 a head on traffic with air carrier X climbing at 200 FPM. Radar controller turned air carrier X immediately right heading 270. I called cae controller to coordination our actions of separting their traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: ACR X CLBING TO CAE LOW SECTOR. CAE LOW HAD ACFT Y AT FL230 S OF CAE BUT NORMAL CLB RATES FOR THE ACR X WOULD HAVE MEANT THERE WAS NOT A CONFLICT. ACR X AT TIMES CLBED AT ONLY 200 FPM, I WAS DISTR FROM WATCHING THE DATA BLOCK. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED AND TURNS WERE ISSUED TO BOTH ACFT BUT LESS THAN 5 MI RESULTED AT CLOSEST POINT WITH ONLY 300' VERT. SHOULD WATCH CLB RATES PLT SHOULD ADVISE OF NONSTANDARD PERFORMANCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 150532. ATL LOW ALT CALLED WITH HDOF ACR X STATING STOPPED AT FL230 AND WILL GET RELEASE HIGHER. I TOLD THEM I WOULD GET RELEASE FROM CLT HIGH. CLT RELEASED ACR X AND THE RADAR CTLR GIVING CLB INSTRUCTION TO FL280. CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF SHOWING ACFT Y AT FL230 A HEAD ON TFC WITH ACR X CLBING AT 200 FPM. RADAR CTLR TURNED ACR X IMMEDIATELY R HDG 270. I CALLED CAE CTLR TO COORD OUR ACTIONS OF SEPARTING THEIR TFC.

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.