Departure controller failed to issue proper altitude assignment to air carrier X.

Attributes
ACN	176528
Time
Date	199104
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	176528
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On standard departure from atl (destination tys), we were air carrier X and cleared on a heading to climb to 14000'. Aircraft was climbing in VNAV, accelerating to climb speed and passing approximately 10700' when captain called visibility traffic air carrier Y at 12 O'clock and about 2-3 mi. An altitude conflict looked imminent so we advised departure of traffic. Departure said 'maintain 10000'.' we said we were already approaching 11000', so departure said to maintain 11000'. We did and leveled off normally at that altitude. The traffic appeared to pass by 1000' above us. We did not have TCASII on board. Departure did not address the conflicting altitude assignment and subsequently cleared us to a higher altitude and on course after the traffic cleared by our right side.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEP CTLR FAILED TO ISSUE PROPER ALT ASSIGNMENT TO ACR X.

Narrative: ON STANDARD DEP FROM ATL (DEST TYS), WE WERE ACR X AND CLRED ON A HDG TO CLB TO 14000'. ACFT WAS CLBING IN VNAV, ACCELERATING TO CLB SPD AND PASSING APPROX 10700' WHEN CAPT CALLED VIS TFC ACR Y AT 12 O'CLOCK AND ABOUT 2-3 MI. AN ALT CONFLICT LOOKED IMMINENT SO WE ADVISED DEP OF TFC. DEP SAID 'MAINTAIN 10000'.' WE SAID WE WERE ALREADY APCHING 11000', SO DEP SAID TO MAINTAIN 11000'. WE DID AND LEVELED OFF NORMALLY AT THAT ALT. THE TFC APPEARED TO PASS BY 1000' ABOVE US. WE DID NOT HAVE TCASII ON BOARD. DEP DID NOT ADDRESS THE CONFLICTING ALT ASSIGNMENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED US TO A HIGHER ALT AND ON COURSE AFTER THE TFC CLRED BY OUR R SIDE.

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.