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

Attributes
ACN	93329
Time
Date	198808
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : har
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32500 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j152
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 245 flight time total : 7900 flight time type : 760
ASRS Report	93329
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	93035
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were air carrier X established on J152 at FL330, in and out of rainshower cloud tops with in-flight visibility of approximately 5-6 miles. Ny center was very busy and, quite suddenly ordered us to 'expedite to FL310' and an air carrier Y to turn left to a westerly heading 'immediately.' I was talking to company when this was broadcast, when I looked out my side, I saw the air carrier Y in a steep left bank. (We later found out it was 500' and 2 mi at the closest). ATC referred to it as an 'operational error'. The air carrier Y pilot asked if we were where we were supposed to be, center's answer was 'yes' and that he was real busy in another portion of the sector with 2 other conflicts. Suggest suitable watch supervisor to backup active controller during real busy operations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: WE WERE ACR X ESTABLISHED ON J152 AT FL330, IN AND OUT OF RAINSHOWER CLOUD TOPS WITH INFLT VISIBILITY OF APPROX 5-6 MILES. NY CTR WAS VERY BUSY AND, QUITE SUDDENLY ORDERED US TO 'EXPEDITE TO FL310' AND AN ACR Y TO TURN L TO A WESTERLY HDG 'IMMEDIATELY.' I WAS TALKING TO COMPANY WHEN THIS WAS BROADCAST, WHEN I LOOKED OUT MY SIDE, I SAW THE ACR Y IN A STEEP L BANK. (WE LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS 500' AND 2 MI AT THE CLOSEST). ATC REFERRED TO IT AS AN 'OPERATIONAL ERROR'. THE ACR Y PLT ASKED IF WE WERE WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, CENTER'S ANSWER WAS 'YES' AND THAT HE WAS REAL BUSY IN ANOTHER PORTION OF THE SECTOR WITH 2 OTHER CONFLICTS. SUGGEST SUITABLE WATCH SUPVR TO BACKUP ACTIVE CTLR DURING REAL BUSY OPS.

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.