SW3 had less than standard separation from DC9 on visual approach. System error.

Attributes
ACN	296503
Time
Date	199502
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp tower : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SA-226 TC Metro II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	296503
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

First inbound rush of the day. ZMP usually fails to meet crossing restrs for inbounds. Tailwinds of up to 30 KTS on final. Sun starting to come up in pilot's eyes. SW3 did not see DC9 ahead to follow. Turn right to ensure separation. 8- 10 aircraft on frequency. Went to turn SW3 back to southeast, frequency blocked. Tried again. Pilot answered. Transmitted to another aircraft. Observed SW3 in slow turn. Turned to 080 degree heading immediately and issued traffic. SW3 had traffic in sight. Other controller on approach south side also very busy. Supervisor on coordinator position was not helping, just sat back watching. I made a bad decision with SW3 vector instead of more speed control. Traffic volume was at my limits.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SW3 HAD LTSS FROM DC9 ON VISUAL APCH. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: FIRST INBOUND RUSH OF THE DAY. ZMP USUALLY FAILS TO MEET XING RESTRS FOR INBOUNDS. TAILWINDS OF UP TO 30 KTS ON FINAL. SUN STARTING TO COME UP IN PLT'S EYES. SW3 DID NOT SEE DC9 AHEAD TO FOLLOW. TURN R TO ENSURE SEPARATION. 8- 10 ACFT ON FREQ. WENT TO TURN SW3 BACK TO SE, FREQ BLOCKED. TRIED AGAIN. PLT ANSWERED. XMITTED TO ANOTHER ACFT. OBSERVED SW3 IN SLOW TURN. TURNED TO 080 DEG HDG IMMEDIATELY AND ISSUED TFC. SW3 HAD TFC IN SIGHT. OTHER CTLR ON APCH S SIDE ALSO VERY BUSY. SUPVR ON COORDINATOR POS WAS NOT HELPING, JUST SAT BACK WATCHING. I MADE A BAD DECISION WITH SW3 VECTOR INSTEAD OF MORE SPD CTL. TFC VOLUME WAS AT MY LIMITS.

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.