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

Attributes
ACN	155076
Time
Date	199008
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	155076
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I had just come out of hold for aircraft going to ewr and was required to provide 15 mi between aircraft. Jets were being vectored quite a bit in order to accomplish this. Air carrier Y was proceeding direct huo landing ewr at 12000'. Air carrier X was being vectored originally on a 100 degree heading for spacing planning on him being third in that sequence of jets. He was descending to 13000'. I turned him around to a 280 degree heading. I then decided to make him #2 in the sequence and gave him direct sax and gave him a restriction to cross 25 NM from sax at 7000'. Air carrier X was east of V213 at the time and air carrier Y was west of V213 still at 12000'. When I realized there could be a problem I turned air carrier Y to a 280 degree heading and air carrier X to a 160 degree heading. I also tried to stop air carrier X at 13000' but he was already out of 12500'. He was instructed to maintain 13000'. It took both aircraft 30 seconds to start their turns after giving them, which I feel is excessive. I should have kept air carrier X at 13000' till I was sure of the sep, however if the pilots would accomplish a standard rate of turn when it is given it certainly would make the job easier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: I HAD JUST COME OUT OF HOLD FOR ACFT GOING TO EWR AND WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 15 MI BTWN ACFT. JETS WERE BEING VECTORED QUITE A BIT IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. ACR Y WAS PROCEEDING DIRECT HUO LNDG EWR AT 12000'. ACR X WAS BEING VECTORED ORIGINALLY ON A 100 DEG HDG FOR SPACING PLANNING ON HIM BEING THIRD IN THAT SEQUENCE OF JETS. HE WAS DSNDING TO 13000'. I TURNED HIM AROUND TO A 280 DEG HDG. I THEN DECIDED TO MAKE HIM #2 IN THE SEQUENCE AND GAVE HIM DIRECT SAX AND GAVE HIM A RESTRICTION TO CROSS 25 NM FROM SAX AT 7000'. ACR X WAS E OF V213 AT THE TIME AND ACR Y WAS W OF V213 STILL AT 12000'. WHEN I REALIZED THERE COULD BE A PROB I TURNED ACR Y TO A 280 DEG HDG AND ACR X TO A 160 DEG HDG. I ALSO TRIED TO STOP ACR X AT 13000' BUT HE WAS ALREADY OUT OF 12500'. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 13000'. IT TOOK BOTH ACFT 30 SECS TO START THEIR TURNS AFTER GIVING THEM, WHICH I FEEL IS EXCESSIVE. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT ACR X AT 13000' TILL I WAS SURE OF THE SEP, HOWEVER IF THE PLTS WOULD ACCOMPLISH A STANDARD RATE OF TURN WHEN IT IS GIVEN IT CERTAINLY WOULD MAKE THE JOB EASIER.

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.