Potential conflict between 2 opposite direction air carrier aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	214471
Time
Date	199206
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elm
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 4950
ASRS Report	214471
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 8900 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	214366
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 20000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Climbing through 25400, ZNY asked if we were level at FL250. We advised him that we were cleared to FL270. At that time, we received an 'RA' from TCASII and a request from center for an immediate descent to FL250. We followed the TCASII commands and we visually acquired the conflicting traffic at FL260 and our 2 O'clock position. Vertical separation was 400 ft and horizontal separation estimated less than 4 NM. Per telecon with supervisor ZNY, a review of tapes revealed that we had been cleared to FL270 and the controller had made a mistake. Supplemental information from acn 214366: the controller 'meant to say FL250.' he also advised us the other aircraft had also deviated to avoid the conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT BTWN 2 OPPOSITE DIRECTION ACR ACFT.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH 25400, ZNY ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL AT FL250. WE ADVISED HIM THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FL270. AT THAT TIME, WE RECEIVED AN 'RA' FROM TCASII AND A REQUEST FROM CTR FOR AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO FL250. WE FOLLOWED THE TCASII COMMANDS AND WE VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE CONFLICTING TFC AT FL260 AND OUR 2 O'CLOCK POS. VERT SEPARATION WAS 400 FT AND HORIZ SEPARATION ESTIMATED LESS THAN 4 NM. PER TELECON WITH SUPVR ZNY, A REVIEW OF TAPES REVEALED THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL270 AND THE CTLR HAD MADE A MISTAKE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 214366: THE CTLR 'MEANT TO SAY FL250.' HE ALSO ADVISED US THE OTHER ACFT HAD ALSO DEVIATED TO AVOID THE CONFLICT.

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.