Less than standard separation between 2 air carrier's. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	174078
Time
Date	199103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tul
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
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
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	174078
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	173932
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were given a descent from FL310 to FL280 by ZFW. At about FL295, we were given a hectic, 'turn right 90 degrees,' while another 'turn right 90 degrees' was issued to another aircraft. Traffic calls to both of us were made along with a, 'hurry to FL280' call to us. I observed air carrier Y climbing on an almost reciprocal heading rolling into a right turn. We appeared to pass co-altitude with about 3 mi sep. The controller voices seemed to vary as if from 2 different people. A supervisor probably discovered a controller error. No evasive action was initiated other than a 30 degrees angle of bank turn to the right as ordered by the controller. Pilot error did not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident. I cannot comment on the controller side of the incident. I also would not classify this as a near miss.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR'S. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A DSNT FROM FL310 TO FL280 BY ZFW. AT ABOUT FL295, WE WERE GIVEN A HECTIC, 'TURN RIGHT 90 DEGS,' WHILE ANOTHER 'TURN RIGHT 90 DEGS' WAS ISSUED TO ANOTHER ACFT. TFC CALLS TO BOTH OF US WERE MADE ALONG WITH A, 'HURRY TO FL280' CALL TO US. I OBSERVED ACR Y CLBING ON AN ALMOST RECIPROCAL HDG ROLLING INTO A RIGHT TURN. WE APPEARED TO PASS CO-ALT WITH ABOUT 3 MI SEP. THE CTLR VOICES SEEMED TO VARY AS IF FROM 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE. A SUPVR PROBABLY DISCOVERED A CTLR ERROR. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS INITIATED OTHER THAN A 30 DEGS ANGLE OF BANK TURN TO THE RIGHT AS ORDERED BY THE CTLR. PLT ERROR DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. I CANNOT COMMENT ON THE CTLR SIDE OF THE INCIDENT. I ALSO WOULD NOT CLASSIFY THIS AS A NEAR MISS.

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.