Corp jet has less than standard separation on descent.

Attributes
ACN	319330
Time
Date	199510
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	319330
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

A LR35 en route from dca to teb via dqo metropolitan 4 arrival direct teb encountered the following situation. On vectors between metropolitan intersection and the VOR DME a approach to teb we were given a clearance to descend from 4000 ft to 3000 ft. We were also assigned an airspeed of 230 KTS. After a short period of time 1-2 mins the controller called traffic 12 O'clock at 4000 ft and needed us to level at 3000 ft immediately. We rapidly leveled off at 3000 ft with the traffic in sight. We were level at 3000 ft well prior to crossing under the traffic. I believe this situation has a 2 part solution so as to not recur again. ATC needs to tell the pilot to expedite descent or something similar when they know crossing traffic to be a factor. This is especially important when the descent is only 1000 ft as pilots often use the low end 500 FPM rather than a higher rate that would be used for dscnts of greater altitude. As pilots operating in high traffic areas, use a greater rate of descent than you normally would to ensure sits such as this one do not occur.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP JET HAS LTSS ON DSCNT.

Narrative: A LR35 ENRTE FROM DCA TO TEB VIA DQO METRO 4 ARR DIRECT TEB ENCOUNTERED THE FOLLOWING SIT. ON VECTORS BTWN METRO INTXN AND THE VOR DME A APCH TO TEB WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND FROM 4000 FT TO 3000 FT. WE WERE ALSO ASSIGNED AN AIRSPD OF 230 KTS. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME 1-2 MINS THE CTLR CALLED TFC 12 O'CLOCK AT 4000 FT AND NEEDED US TO LEVEL AT 3000 FT IMMEDIATELY. WE RAPIDLY LEVELED OFF AT 3000 FT WITH THE TFC IN SIGHT. WE WERE LEVEL AT 3000 FT WELL PRIOR TO XING UNDER THE TFC. I BELIEVE THIS SIT HAS A 2 PART SOLUTION SO AS TO NOT RECUR AGAIN. ATC NEEDS TO TELL THE PLT TO EXPEDITE DSCNT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WHEN THEY KNOW XING TFC TO BE A FACTOR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THE DSCNT IS ONLY 1000 FT AS PLTS OFTEN USE THE LOW END 500 FPM RATHER THAN A HIGHER RATE THAT WOULD BE USED FOR DSCNTS OF GREATER ALT. AS PLTS OPERATING IN HIGH TFC AREAS, USE A GREATER RATE OF DSCNT THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD TO ENSURE SITS SUCH AS THIS ONE DO NOT 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.