Air carrier was issued immediate turns to avoid conflicting traffic at the same altitude.

Attributes
ACN	140037
Time
Date	199003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	140037
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were in cruise flight at FL370 en route to iad when ATC ordered an immediate 30 degree right turn. They asked us several times to continue the turn (with great emphasis). They also turned an air carrier aircraft to the left. It appeared that we were on converging courses. We did not see the other aircraft until the conflict was over. We also offered to climb to FL390, which was approved. It appears that the incident was a 'screw-up' on the part of ATC. I wonder if the ATC person got that feeling in the pit of his gut like we get when we believe we screwed up and may be violated or worse.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS ISSUED IMMEDIATE TURNS TO AVOID CONFLICTING TRAFFIC AT THE SAME ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE IN CRUISE FLT AT FL370 ENRTE TO IAD WHEN ATC ORDERED AN IMMEDIATE 30 DEG R TURN. THEY ASKED US SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTINUE THE TURN (WITH GREAT EMPHASIS). THEY ALSO TURNED AN ACR ACFT TO THE L. IT APPEARED THAT WE WERE ON CONVERGING COURSES. WE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER ACFT UNTIL THE CONFLICT WAS OVER. WE ALSO OFFERED TO CLB TO FL390, WHICH WAS APPROVED. IT APPEARS THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A 'SCREW-UP' ON THE PART OF ATC. I WONDER IF THE ATC PERSON GOT THAT FEELING IN THE PIT OF HIS GUT LIKE WE GET WHEN WE BELIEVE WE SCREWED UP AND MAY BE VIOLATED OR WORSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.