A flight of military tankers got separated in the WX over the atlantic.

Attributes
ACN	237376
Time
Date	199304
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ilm
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc military facility : sealord
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	237376
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : exit non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The mission was thoroughly briefed the day prior by X Y assumed lead the day of the flight. WX in tailhook-a was marginal VFR to IMC -- worsening as the day progressed. Z went lost wingman 17 mins prior to the ear exit time. The lead aircraft Y made a series of unexpected maneuvers as Z attempted to rejoin the flight. Lead obtained a route clearance different than flight planned without #2's acknowledgement. Radios were extremely busy throughout the episode and many times unreadable -- hampering communication. All equipment on Z was functional except an inoperative pilot's radar scope. There was no way to back up the navigator to maintain cell position while IMC. Upon completion of the flight, Z and Y were told to contact ZDC. Center questioned how Z could get separated so far from the flight. They had to vector various aircraft to ensure safe IFR separation. We were advised separation was not compromised but an investigation would occur.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLT OF MIL TANKERS GOT SEPARATED IN THE WX OVER THE ATLANTIC.

Narrative: THE MISSION WAS THOROUGHLY BRIEFED THE DAY PRIOR BY X Y ASSUMED LEAD THE DAY OF THE FLT. WX IN TAILHOOK-A WAS MARGINAL VFR TO IMC -- WORSENING AS THE DAY PROGRESSED. Z WENT LOST WINGMAN 17 MINS PRIOR TO THE EAR EXIT TIME. THE LEAD ACFT Y MADE A SERIES OF UNEXPECTED MANEUVERS AS Z ATTEMPTED TO REJOIN THE FLT. LEAD OBTAINED A RTE CLRNC DIFFERENT THAN FLT PLANNED WITHOUT #2'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. RADIOS WERE EXTREMELY BUSY THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE AND MANY TIMES UNREADABLE -- HAMPERING COM. ALL EQUIP ON Z WAS FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT AN INOP PLT'S RADAR SCOPE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO BACK UP THE NAVIGATOR TO MAINTAIN CELL POS WHILE IMC. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FLT, Z AND Y WERE TOLD TO CONTACT ZDC. CTR QUESTIONED HOW Z COULD GET SEPARATED SO FAR FROM THE FLT. THEY HAD TO VECTOR VARIOUS ACFT TO ENSURE SAFE IFR SEPARATION. WE WERE ADVISED SEPARATION WAS NOT COMPROMISED BUT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD OCCUR.

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.