Narrative:

Small aircraft X departed santa barbara and requested IFR clearance to hnl at 6000'. The aircraft, after radar contact was lost, subsequently reported level at 6000'. Another controller terminated radar services and sent the aircraft to en route frequencys. A faster type Y departed sba about 3 hours later (I have not been given all of the particulars of this incident) and was also cleared to 6000' for hnl. For the next 10 hours and 1000 mi aircraft X reported level at 6000'. The ZOA controller eventually climbed aircraft Y to 8000' to establish vertical sep with small aircraft X. Unbeknownst to all controllers, aircraft X also climbed to 8000' after derok intersection. Aircraft X and Y came within 50 mi latitude of each other at the same altitude. I regret this report is so brief and sketchy, but I haven't been apprised of all the details. It would appear that this is a pilot deviation, however others may not agree. Indeed, I have been somehow held culpable for an occurrence 1000 mi outside of my facility's airspace. I would suggest the FAA invest in HF radios. This would eliminate the need to communication to aircraft through commercial radio. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter (ZLA controller) still not sure if he was responsible. Facility quality assurance has still not completed review of incident. Aircraft departed sba during tower closure time (middle of night). Pilot of aircraft X claims he was cleared to 8000' at some point. Facility quality assurance says reporter's clearance was not concise.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 SMA IN NON RADAR ENVIRONMENT ON PACIFIC ROUTE.

Narrative: SMA X DEPARTED SANTA BARBARA AND REQUESTED IFR CLRNC TO HNL AT 6000'. THE ACFT, AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST, SUBSEQUENTLY RPTED LEVEL AT 6000'. ANOTHER CTLR TERMINATED RADAR SVCS AND SENT THE ACFT TO ENRTE FREQS. A FASTER TYPE Y DEPARTED SBA ABOUT 3 HRS LATER (I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ALL OF THE PARTICULARS OF THIS INCIDENT) AND WAS ALSO CLRED TO 6000' FOR HNL. FOR THE NEXT 10 HRS AND 1000 MI ACFT X RPTED LEVEL AT 6000'. THE ZOA CTLR EVENTUALLY CLBED ACFT Y TO 8000' TO ESTABLISH VERT SEP WITH SMA X. UNBEKNOWNST TO ALL CTLRS, ACFT X ALSO CLBED TO 8000' AFTER DEROK INTXN. ACFT X AND Y CAME WITHIN 50 MI LAT OF EACH OTHER AT THE SAME ALT. I REGRET THIS RPT IS SO BRIEF AND SKETCHY, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN APPRISED OF ALL THE DETAILS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS IS A PLTDEV, HOWEVER OTHERS MAY NOT AGREE. INDEED, I HAVE BEEN SOMEHOW HELD CULPABLE FOR AN OCCURRENCE 1000 MI OUTSIDE OF MY FAC'S AIRSPACE. I WOULD SUGGEST THE FAA INVEST IN HF RADIOS. THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED TO COM TO ACFT THROUGH COMMERCIAL RADIO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR (ZLA CTLR) STILL NOT SURE IF HE WAS RESPONSIBLE. FAC QUALITY ASSURANCE HAS STILL NOT COMPLETED REVIEW OF INCIDENT. ACFT DEPARTED SBA DURING TWR CLOSURE TIME (MIDDLE OF NIGHT). PLT OF ACFT X CLAIMS HE WAS CLRED TO 8000' AT SOME POINT. FAC QUALITY ASSURANCE SAYS RPTR'S CLRNC WAS NOT CONCISE.

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.