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

Attributes
ACN	156369
Time
Date	199009
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lkv
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	156369
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller military : 10 controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	156368
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
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 1200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was observing trnee with 2 other crossing situations. Earlier we accepted a handoff on air carrier X climbing out of pdx. I observed the climb rate of air carrier X and KT appeared sufficient to top nwbnd air carrier Y at FL310. Attention was soon diverted to earlier described situations and I neglected to update situation with air carrier X climber, trnee then turned air carrier X for lin intersection which made situation worse. The trnee then turned air carrier X 90 degrees left and I instructed trnee to descend air carrier Y to FL290. (Always use immediate and never bet on the come.) don't be afraid to override trnee (regardless of experience) in developing situations. Don't focus on any one situation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter stated aircraft were air carrier medium large transport's. The developmental controller had been previously certified on the sector and was getting proficiency time for recertification the edp and C/a activated at the same time which brought the conflict to the reporter's attention.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: I WAS OBSERVING TRNEE WITH 2 OTHER XING SITUATIONS. EARLIER WE ACCEPTED A HDOF ON ACR X CLBING OUT OF PDX. I OBSERVED THE CLB RATE OF ACR X AND KT APPEARED SUFFICIENT TO TOP NWBND ACR Y AT FL310. ATTN WAS SOON DIVERTED TO EARLIER DESCRIBED SITUATIONS AND I NEGLECTED TO UPDATE SITUATION WITH ACR X CLIMBER, TRNEE THEN TURNED ACR X FOR LIN INTXN WHICH MADE SITUATION WORSE. THE TRNEE THEN TURNED ACR X 90 DEGS LEFT AND I INSTRUCTED TRNEE TO DSND ACR Y TO FL290. (ALWAYS USE IMMEDIATE AND NEVER BET ON THE COME.) DON'T BE AFRAID TO OVERRIDE TRNEE (REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE) IN DEVELOPING SITUATIONS. DON'T FOCUS ON ANY ONE SITUATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATED ACFT WERE ACR MLG'S. THE DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED ON THE SECTOR AND WAS GETTING PROFICIENCY TIME FOR RECERTIFICATION THE EDP AND C/A ACTIVATED AT THE SAME TIME WHICH BROUGHT THE CONFLICT TO THE RPTR'S ATTN.

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.