TCASII alert and resolution.

Attributes
ACN	295730
Time
Date	199502
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cvi
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 26000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	295730
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 other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error other

Narrative:

On climb on course, 17 mi southeast of cvi en route orf to jax, passing FL240, received TCASII alert, 'monitor vertical speed,' then 'descend.' responded to alert as required. We had been cleared to FL260. Traffic was converging at FL250. We stopped climb at FL245 and returned to FL240. ATC advised that ATC had a miscom between lower sector (frequency 123.85) and high altitude controller. Lower controller advised that the traffic at FL250 was a surprise to him also. Captain's irregularity report was filed. We never had a visual on the traffic. This is a classic case of an ATC error. We called ARTCC on the phone and they advised it was a non-event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII ALERT AND RESOLUTION.

Narrative: ON CLB ON COURSE, 17 MI SE OF CVI ENRTE ORF TO JAX, PASSING FL240, RECEIVED TCASII ALERT, 'MONITOR VERT SPD,' THEN 'DSND.' RESPONDED TO ALERT AS REQUIRED. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL260. TFC WAS CONVERGING AT FL250. WE STOPPED CLB AT FL245 AND RETURNED TO FL240. ATC ADVISED THAT ATC HAD A MISCOM BTWN LOWER SECTOR (FREQ 123.85) AND HIGH ALT CTLR. LOWER CTLR ADVISED THAT THE TFC AT FL250 WAS A SURPRISE TO HIM ALSO. CAPT'S IRREGULARITY RPT WAS FILED. WE NEVER HAD A VISUAL ON THE TFC. THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF AN ATC ERROR. WE CALLED ARTCC ON THE PHONE AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS A NON-EVENT.

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.