ATR42 had less than standard separation from G3 same altitude assigned. System error.

Attributes
ACN	264044
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 42
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	264044
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was busy trying to identify a VFR aircraft in the sbj vicinity. A possible loss of separation was happening between an ATR42 and G3. The problem was definitely caused by my attention span being given to the VFR who was tagged up and tracking on an unknown target. This computer problem caused frequency congestion and confusion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATR42 HAD LTSS FROM G3 SAME ALT ASSIGNED. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS BUSY TRYING TO IDENT A VFR ACFT IN THE SBJ VICINITY. A POSSIBLE LOSS OF SEPARATION WAS HAPPENING BTWN AN ATR42 AND G3. THE PROB WAS DEFINITELY CAUSED BY MY ATTN SPAN BEING GIVEN TO THE VFR WHO WAS TAGGED UP AND TRACKING ON AN UNKNOWN TARGET. THIS COMPUTER PROB CAUSED FREQ CONGESTION AND CONFUSION.

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.