TCASII RA at FL290 motivated flight crew to climb. RA cleared at FL200. Traffic was level at FL280.

Attributes
ACN	197217
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mcn
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
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 cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	197217
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	196674
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in cruise at FL290 in hazy conditions we received a TCASII RA 'traffic, climb, climb' with a demand for a climb of 2000-2500 ft (green band) and a red band below level flight. The student copilot immediately initiated a climb until the RA silenced at about FL300. I made a call to atlanta center indicating the situation and that we were out of FL290. He informed me that our only traffic had passed directly beneath us at FL280. Before I left the frequency I confirmed that before my 'deviation transmission' we both indicated level (with no climb or descent) at our respective altitudes (he at FL280 and I at FL290). He confirmed this. As a result of this information I can only assume that this was a false warning and that the RA was unwarranted. I informed the controller of my intention to file this report as well as a TCASII questionnaire form.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA AT FL290 MOTIVATED FLC TO CLB. RA CLRED AT FL200. TFC WAS LEVEL AT FL280.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL290 IN HAZY CONDITIONS WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA 'TFC, CLB, CLB' WITH A DEMAND FOR A CLB OF 2000-2500 FT (GREEN BAND) AND A RED BAND BELOW LEVEL FLT. THE STUDENT COPLT IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB UNTIL THE RA SILENCED AT ABOUT FL300. I MADE A CALL TO ATLANTA CENTER INDICATING THE SITUATION AND THAT WE WERE OUT OF FL290. HE INFORMED ME THAT OUR ONLY TFC HAD PASSED DIRECTLY BENEATH US AT FL280. BEFORE I LEFT THE FREQ I CONFIRMED THAT BEFORE MY 'DEV XMISSION' WE BOTH INDICATED LEVEL (WITH NO CLB OR DSCNT) AT OUR RESPECTIVE ALTS (HE AT FL280 AND I AT FL290). HE CONFIRMED THIS. AS A RESULT OF THIS INFO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THIS WAS A FALSE WARNING AND THAT THE RA WAS UNWARRANTED. I INFORMED THE CTLR OF MY INTENTION TO FILE THIS RPT AS WELL AS A TCASII QUESTIONNAIRE FORM.

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.