Less than standard separation between military-fgt and military-spc. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	99193
Time
Date	198812
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orf airport : ngu airport : lfi
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : orf tower : mci
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Experimental
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach controller : departure
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 7
ASRS Report	99193
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	99191
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Fgt X, being sequenced to the local lfi military base was given a sebnd heading for intrail restrictions. Spc Y departed for the warning areas requesting 4000'. Fgt X was descended to 4000', turned wbound and spc Y was given direct to the warning areas (eastbound). Traffic was busy and coordination by landlines and with orf flight data people caused attention to be taken away from the radar scope. Traffic was given to spc Y about the oncoming fgt who I believed I had only descending to 5000' (not 4000'). Fgt X was advised to maintain 5000', he then advised me radar contact with the opp direction spc Y, but less than minimum sep had existed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter gave airports involved and approximately location of conflict. After fgt X reported radar contact on spc Y the controller climbed fgt X back up to 5000'. Lowest fgt got was 4300' with spc Y at 4000'. Flight X passed behind spc Y with visual contact. No other corrective action by ATC. Supplemental information from acn 99191: I was giving an evaluation on a radar position. I was current but not that proficient. I missed the descent given to the fgt pilot which was ok until trnee turned aircraft towards each other.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN MIL-FGT AND MIL-SPC. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: FGT X, BEING SEQUENCED TO THE LCL LFI MIL BASE WAS GIVEN A SEBND HDG FOR INTRAIL RESTRICTIONS. SPC Y DEPARTED FOR THE WARNING AREAS REQUESTING 4000'. FGT X WAS DSNDED TO 4000', TURNED WBOUND AND SPC Y WAS GIVEN DIRECT TO THE WARNING AREAS (EBND). TFC WAS BUSY AND COORD BY LANDLINES AND WITH ORF FLT DATA PEOPLE CAUSED ATTN TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. TFC WAS GIVEN TO SPC Y ABOUT THE ONCOMING FGT WHO I BELIEVED I HAD ONLY DSNDING TO 5000' (NOT 4000'). FGT X WAS ADVISED TO MAINTAIN 5000', HE THEN ADVISED ME RADAR CONTACT WITH THE OPP DIRECTION SPC Y, BUT LESS THAN MINIMUM SEP HAD EXISTED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR GAVE ARPTS INVOLVED AND APPROX LOCATION OF CONFLICT. AFTER FGT X RPTED RADAR CONTACT ON SPC Y THE CTLR CLBED FGT X BACK UP TO 5000'. LOWEST FGT GOT WAS 4300' WITH SPC Y AT 4000'. FLT X PASSED BEHIND SPC Y WITH VISUAL CONTACT. NO OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION BY ATC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 99191: I WAS GIVING AN EVALUATION ON A RADAR POS. I WAS CURRENT BUT NOT THAT PROFICIENT. I MISSED THE DSCNT GIVEN TO THE FGT PLT WHICH WAS OK UNTIL TRNEE TURNED ACFT TOWARDS EACH OTHER.

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.