Air carrier X potential less than standard separation from air carrier Y. Potential system error.

Attributes
ACN	154956
Time
Date	199008
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	154956
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
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	other

Narrative:

Dca departure control cleared air carrier X to climb to 9000' on dca 328 degree right. Then we were given a speed restriction to 250 KTS and right turn to 020 degrees. We leveled at 9000' and rolled out on 020 degree heading and another voice came from dca departure control with an immediate turn left to 180 degrees, traffic at 12 O'clock, 3 mi. I advised that I had traffic in sight and was cleared to maintain visibility contact and tighten turn. Sighted traffic was another air carrier Y, an large transport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: DCA DEP CTL CLRED ACR X TO CLB TO 9000' ON DCA 328 DEG R. THEN WE WERE GIVEN A SPD RESTRICTION TO 250 KTS AND RIGHT TURN TO 020 DEGS. WE LEVELED AT 9000' AND ROLLED OUT ON 020 DEG HDG AND ANOTHER VOICE CAME FROM DCA DEP CTL WITH AN IMMEDIATE TURN LEFT TO 180 DEGS, TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK, 3 MI. I ADVISED THAT I HAD TFC IN SIGHT AND WAS CLRED TO MAINTAIN VIS CONTACT AND TIGHTEN TURN. SIGHTED TFC WAS ANOTHER ACR Y, AN LGT.

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.