Jfk controller releases B757 behind B727 with insufficient separation resulting in operational error...

Attributes
ACN	459981
Time
Date	200001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : jfk.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : jfk.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	controller limited radar : 12 controller non radar : 4 controller time certified in position1 : 11 flight time total : 4400
ASRS Report	459981
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Aircraft #1, the B727, departed runway 31L swbound at PM18. The B757 was cleared for takeoff by me a min later. Because of strong winds, the B757 became airborne sooner than I anticipated. As the aircraft was climbing well, it started its turn earlier than I had planned. I should have instructed the aircraft to stop its turn, to 'build in' some more separation from the B727, but I did not. I had planned on the B727 at least staying ahead of the B757, but as it turned out, the B757 gradually overtook the B727, resulting in less than the required 3 mi separation and requiring the departure controller to vector the B757 around the B727. Instinct had told me to stop the B757's turn but I elected not to. In the future, I will listen to my instincts more, and follow what experience had taught me in the past. The incident also occurred in the late evening, at the end of my shift, so I will be more aware of the effects of fatigue on my performance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JFK CTLR RELEASES B757 BEHIND B727 WITH INSUFFICIENT SEPARATION RESULTING IN OPERROR.

Narrative: ACFT #1, THE B727, DEPARTED RWY 31L SWBOUND AT PM18. THE B757 WAS CLRED FOR TKOF BY ME A MIN LATER. BECAUSE OF STRONG WINDS, THE B757 BECAME AIRBORNE SOONER THAN I ANTICIPATED. AS THE ACFT WAS CLBING WELL, IT STARTED ITS TURN EARLIER THAN I HAD PLANNED. I SHOULD HAVE INSTRUCTED THE ACFT TO STOP ITS TURN, TO 'BUILD IN' SOME MORE SEPARATION FROM THE B727, BUT I DID NOT. I HAD PLANNED ON THE B727 AT LEAST STAYING AHEAD OF THE B757, BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, THE B757 GRADUALLY OVERTOOK THE B727, RESULTING IN LESS THAN THE REQUIRED 3 MI SEPARATION AND REQUIRING THE DEP CTLR TO VECTOR THE B757 AROUND THE B727. INSTINCT HAD TOLD ME TO STOP THE B757'S TURN BUT I ELECTED NOT TO. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL LISTEN TO MY INSTINCTS MORE, AND FOLLOW WHAT EXPERIENCE HAD TAUGHT ME IN THE PAST. THE INCIDENT ALSO OCCURRED IN THE LATE EVENING, AT THE END OF MY SHIFT, SO I WILL BE MORE AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF FATIGUE ON MY PERFORMANCE.

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.