Less than standard separation between two air carrier aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	91606
Time
Date	198807
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ilm
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33500 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	91606
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe incursion : runway non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 27000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X deviated for WX into air carrier Y also at FL350. After working at the sector with other aircraft deviating a WX route took shape in my mind, but air carrier X pilot deviated way beyond that route, and my attention being dispersed, his track went unnoticed too long. Corrective action taken, turned both aircraft and descended one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X DEVIATED FOR WX INTO ACR Y ALSO AT FL350. AFTER WORKING AT THE SECTOR WITH OTHER ACFT DEVIATING A WX ROUTE TOOK SHAPE IN MY MIND, BUT ACR X PLT DEVIATED WAY BEYOND THAT ROUTE, AND MY ATTN BEING DISPERSED, HIS TRACK WENT UNNOTICED TOO LONG. CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN, TURNED BOTH ACFT AND DSNDED ONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.