Narrative:

I was working 4 aircraft in my airspace as a controller at ZMA. I received a handoff on air carrier Y from ewr to mkjp at FL350. At the same time as the handoff, the previous sector at ZJX coordinated the fact that air carrier Y was overtaking an aircraft I had previously received a handoff on (air carrier X). The controller at ZJX asked if action was required to move air carrier Y to maintain sep. I explained that they presently had 65 mi latitude sep and that if someone needed to be moved that I would descend air carrier X (who was landing at mia). I went on to other business of the sector, namely monitoring an approach to the backcourse 27 at mlb and was inadvertently delayed in taking action to correct the overtake situation. In referring back to the situation, our air traffic C/a system had been activated. I quickly issued an immediate descent clearance to FL330 to air carrier X and the pilot acknowledged also stating he had air carrier Y in sight. I also turned air carrier Y to heading 240 degrees, upon acknowledgement also stated having air carrier X in sight relieving the chance for a near midair. The pilots were very professional and cooperative, but minimum sep standards were lost. Closest proximity was 3 mi latitude and 500' vertical.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR DUE TO ARTCC CTLR DISTR TASK.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING 4 ACFT IN MY AIRSPACE AS A CTLR AT ZMA. I RECEIVED A HDOF ON ACR Y FROM EWR TO MKJP AT FL350. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE HDOF, THE PREVIOUS SECTOR AT ZJX COORDINATED THE FACT THAT ACR Y WAS OVERTAKING AN ACFT I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A HDOF ON (ACR X). THE CTLR AT ZJX ASKED IF ACTION WAS REQUIRED TO MOVE ACR Y TO MAINTAIN SEP. I EXPLAINED THAT THEY PRESENTLY HAD 65 MI LAT SEP AND THAT IF SOMEONE NEEDED TO BE MOVED THAT I WOULD DSND ACR X (WHO WAS LNDG AT MIA). I WENT ON TO OTHER BUSINESS OF THE SECTOR, NAMELY MONITORING AN APCH TO THE BACKCOURSE 27 AT MLB AND WAS INADVERTENTLY DELAYED IN TAKING ACTION TO CORRECT THE OVERTAKE SITUATION. IN REFERRING BACK TO THE SITUATION, OUR AIR TFC C/A SYS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. I QUICKLY ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT CLRNC TO FL330 TO ACR X AND THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED ALSO STATING HE HAD ACR Y IN SIGHT. I ALSO TURNED ACR Y TO HDG 240 DEGS, UPON ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ALSO STATED HAVING ACR X IN SIGHT RELIEVING THE CHANCE FOR A NEAR MIDAIR. THE PLTS WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND COOPERATIVE, BUT MINIMUM SEP STANDARDS WERE LOST. CLOSEST PROX WAS 3 MI LAT AND 500' VERT.

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.