Less than standard separation between two acrs near ARTCC area boundary.

Attributes
ACN	106670
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : svm
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j70
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	106670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error

Narrative:

Approximately alphe intersection on J70 between svm and pmm, climbing, cle center cleared us to maintain FL230 and 280 KTS maximum, then reclred to climb to FL290 and 290 KTS maximum speed. Captain flying aircraft, first officer running radio. I understood first officer to read back FL290 and he dialed FL290 in MCP window. I acknowledged 290 KT and FL290. Received frequency change to ord center, first officer checked on with call sign and gave FL280 for FL290. Ord center immediately responded to maintain FL280. Altitude hold was immediately engaged at FL280 but aircraft drifted to approximately 28.01 before descent back to FL280. Center had right to left overtaking crossing traffic at FL290 same direction. When asked about problem controller said there was a conflict but saw no need to involve pilots, center would review tapes and to give them a phone call if we wanted to.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO ACRS NEAR ARTCC AREA BOUNDARY.

Narrative: APPROX ALPHE INTXN ON J70 BTWN SVM AND PMM, CLBING, CLE CENTER CLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL230 AND 280 KTS MAX, THEN RECLRED TO CLB TO FL290 AND 290 KTS MAX SPD. CAPT FLYING ACFT, F/O RUNNING RADIO. I UNDERSTOOD F/O TO READ BACK FL290 AND HE DIALED FL290 IN MCP WINDOW. I ACKNOWLEDGED 290 KT AND FL290. RECEIVED FREQ CHANGE TO ORD CENTER, F/O CHKED ON WITH CALL SIGN AND GAVE FL280 FOR FL290. ORD CENTER IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO MAINTAIN FL280. ALT HOLD WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED AT FL280 BUT ACFT DRIFTED TO APPROX 28.01 BEFORE DSCNT BACK TO FL280. CENTER HAD RIGHT TO LEFT OVERTAKING XING TFC AT FL290 SAME DIRECTION. WHEN ASKED ABOUT PROB CTLR SAID THERE WAS A CONFLICT BUT SAW NO NEED TO INVOLVE PLTS, CENTER WOULD REVIEW TAPES AND TO GIVE THEM A PHONE CALL IF WE WANTED TO.

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.