Narrative:

In a climb departing hou for dfw cleared to 5000' and advised of traffic ahead descending to 6000'. We reported traffic in sight to houston departure and we were then cleared to 15,000 to avoid traffic. We were on an assigned heading of 340 degree at the time. Neither turns to left or right, nor holding heading provided any relative bearing information and almost immediately we realized we would come very close to the other aircraft. In the few moments remaining we devoted full attention to readying for whatever last second evasive maneuver might be required. Only a shallow banked turn was necessary. It is apparent now that even in good visibility conditions, certain lighting conditions can make visual separation of adequate dimensions nearly impossible. I would suggest that in hours of darkness, clrncs of this type should be neither issued nor accepted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ON CLIMB OUT ADVISED OF TRAFFIC DESCENDING. CONTINUED CLIMB USING SHALLOW TURN TO AVOID CONFLICT.

Narrative: IN A CLIMB DEPARTING HOU FOR DFW CLRED TO 5000' AND ADVISED OF TFC AHEAD DESCENDING TO 6000'. WE REPORTED TFC IN SIGHT TO HOUSTON DEP AND WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 15,000 TO AVOID TFC. WE WERE ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 340 DEG AT THE TIME. NEITHER TURNS TO LEFT OR RIGHT, NOR HOLDING HDG PROVIDED ANY RELATIVE BEARING INFO AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE REALIZED WE WOULD COME VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER ACFT. IN THE FEW MOMENTS REMAINING WE DEVOTED FULL ATTN TO READYING FOR WHATEVER LAST SECOND EVASIVE MANEUVER MIGHT BE REQUIRED. ONLY A SHALLOW BANKED TURN WAS NECESSARY. IT IS APPARENT NOW THAT EVEN IN GOOD VISIBILITY CONDITIONS, CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS CAN MAKE VISUAL SEPARATION OF ADEQUATE DIMENSIONS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IN HOURS OF DARKNESS, CLRNCS OF THIS TYPE SHOULD BE NEITHER ISSUED NOR ACCEPTED.

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.