Air carrier responds to TCASII RA. Receives opposite direction RA.

Attributes
ACN	226522
Time
Date	199211
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : pdx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	226522
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Captain was flying. We were climbing. Departure control had cleared us to 13000 and reported traffic at 2 O'clock, 14500, a commuter. I told him I was looking. (We were very light and climbing very fast. We were going through approximately 12200 when I turned my attention outside looking for the traffic). I did see a plane, but wasn't sure if it was the right one, so I didn't report it in sight yet. ATC reported it again, then I was distracted by a 'traffic' alert from the TCASII and shortly thereafter an 'altitude' alert. I looked and saw our altitude of 13300. I alerted the captain, but he said he was following the 'climb' command from the TCASII, which I had missed. Then, the TCASII issued a 'descend' command when we reached approximately 13500. This was initiated immediately by the captain and we leveled off at our assigned altitude of 13000. I told ATC we had been at 13500 due to a TCASII alert and were now back at 13000. He responded 'roger' and then cleared us to 16000 MSL. After discussion with ATC on the phone, we suspect that the initial climb command might have been due to traffic other than the commuter at 14500 and then the 'descend' command was due to him. At that time (when the 'descend' command was given). I did have positive contact with the commuter and no conflict was evident or reported by ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR RESPONDS TO TCASII RA. RECEIVES OPPOSITE DIRECTION RA.

Narrative: CAPT WAS FLYING. WE WERE CLBING. DEP CTL HAD CLRED US TO 13000 AND RPTED TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK, 14500, A COMMUTER. I TOLD HIM I WAS LOOKING. (WE WERE VERY LIGHT AND CLBING VERY FAST. WE WERE GOING THROUGH APPROX 12200 WHEN I TURNED MY ATTN OUTSIDE LOOKING FOR THE TFC). I DID SEE A PLANE, BUT WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE, SO I DIDN'T RPT IT IN SIGHT YET. ATC RPTED IT AGAIN, THEN I WAS DISTRACTED BY A 'TFC' ALERT FROM THE TCASII AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER AN 'ALT' ALERT. I LOOKED AND SAW OUR ALT OF 13300. I ALERTED THE CAPT, BUT HE SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING THE 'CLB' COMMAND FROM THE TCASII, WHICH I HAD MISSED. THEN, THE TCASII ISSUED A 'DSND' COMMAND WHEN WE REACHED APPROX 13500. THIS WAS INITIATED IMMEDIATELY BY THE CAPT AND WE LEVELED OFF AT OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 13000. I TOLD ATC WE HAD BEEN AT 13500 DUE TO A TCASII ALERT AND WERE NOW BACK AT 13000. HE RESPONDED 'ROGER' AND THEN CLRED US TO 16000 MSL. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH ATC ON THE PHONE, WE SUSPECT THAT THE INITIAL CLB COMMAND MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO TFC OTHER THAN THE COMMUTER AT 14500 AND THEN THE 'DSND' COMMAND WAS DUE TO HIM. AT THAT TIME (WHEN THE 'DSND' COMMAND WAS GIVEN). I DID HAVE POSITIVE CONTACT WITH THE COMMUTER AND NO CONFLICT WAS EVIDENT OR RPTED BY ATC.

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.