Air carrier at cruise has TCASII RA to 'do not climb,' then 'descend.'

Attributes
ACN	204533
Time
Date	199203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : baf
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15700 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	204533
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in cruise at 16000 ft MSL on V-292 about 40 mi west of barnes VOR, TCASII issued an RA 'do not climb.' the traffic had been issued by ZNY as in a climb. TCASII then issued a descent of 1000 FPM, which I complied with promptly. After descending a brief 200-300 ft, TCASII issued a 'clear of conflict,' and we returned to our cruise altitude of 16000 ft and we notified ZNY of our TCASII commands, compliance, and return to cruise altitude. Recommend that in future, aircraft climbing through another's altitude be instructed to maintain greater rate of climb until well above another's altitude. While I do not feel our craft was in danger, I feel that TCASII acted properly to prevent loss of safe separation. TCASII is a great asset.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR AT CRUISE HAS TCASII RA TO 'DO NOT CLB,' THEN 'DSND.'

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT 16000 FT MSL ON V-292 ABOUT 40 MI W OF BARNES VOR, TCASII ISSUED AN RA 'DO NOT CLB.' THE TFC HAD BEEN ISSUED BY ZNY AS IN A CLB. TCASII THEN ISSUED A DSCNT OF 1000 FPM, WHICH I COMPLIED WITH PROMPTLY. AFTER DSNDING A BRIEF 200-300 FT, TCASII ISSUED A 'CLR OF CONFLICT,' AND WE RETURNED TO OUR CRUISE ALT OF 16000 FT AND WE NOTIFIED ZNY OF OUR TCASII COMMANDS, COMPLIANCE, AND RETURN TO CRUISE ALT. RECOMMEND THAT IN FUTURE, ACFT CLBING THROUGH ANOTHER'S ALT BE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN GREATER RATE OF CLB UNTIL WELL ABOVE ANOTHER'S ALT. WHILE I DO NOT FEEL OUR CRAFT WAS IN DANGER, I FEEL THAT TCASII ACTED PROPERLY TO PREVENT LOSS OF SAFE SEPARATION. TCASII IS A GREAT ASSET.

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.