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

Attributes
ACN	201262
Time
Date	199202
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other 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
Flight Phase	descent other
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 : 10000 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	201262
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 9500
ASRS Report	201929
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X departed runway 18L at mem. Radar vector on landing 090 degrees, cleared to climb and maintain 12000 ft at 8200 ft and 4000 ft/ min rate of climb, ATC issued clearance to maintain 8000 ft traffic 12 O'clock 3 mi descending out of 9500 ft. I initiated a level off at 8500 ft. We visually acquired a company medium large transport descending through our altitude at 12 O'clock and at a relatively short rang. I initiated a right turn, not controller directed, to pass behind the medium large transport. First officer communicated to ATC that we were climbing out of 8200 ft and leveling at 8500 ft, when 8000 ft clearance was issued, that we had visual contact with air carrier Y and we passed behind it. ATC responded 'roger maintain visual separation climb and maintain 12000 ft'. When time permitted, I notified our company of the loss of separation. Subsequent conversations with (on phone) the ATC supervisor at mem resulted in him taking responsibility for inappropriate actions by the controller involved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD LTSS FROM ACR Y. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X DEPARTED RWY 18L AT MEM. RADAR VECTOR ON LNDG 090 DEGS, CLRED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 12000 FT AT 8200 FT AND 4000 FT/ MIN RATE OF CLB, ATC ISSUED CLRNC TO MAINTAIN 8000 FT TFC 12 O'CLOCK 3 MI DSNDING OUT OF 9500 FT. I INITIATED A LEVEL OFF AT 8500 FT. WE VISUALLY ACQUIRED A COMPANY MLG DSNDING THROUGH OUR ALT AT 12 O'CLOCK AND AT A RELATIVELY SHORT RANG. I INITIATED A R TURN, NOT CTLR DIRECTED, TO PASS BEHIND THE MLG. FO COMMUNICATED TO ATC THAT WE WERE CLBING OUT OF 8200 FT AND LEVELING AT 8500 FT, WHEN 8000 FT CLRNC WAS ISSUED, THAT WE HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH ACR Y AND WE PASSED BEHIND IT. ATC RESPONDED 'ROGER MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION CLB AND MAINTAIN 12000 FT'. WHEN TIME PERMITTED, I NOTIFIED OUR COMPANY OF THE LOSS OF SEPARATION. SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH (ON PHONE) THE ATC SUPVR AT MEM RESULTED IN HIM TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS BY THE CTLR INVOLVED.

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.