Climbing aircraft encounters TCASII RA with opposite direction traffic.

Attributes
ACN	321922
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwg
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	321922
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6500
ASRS Report	323030
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
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 : 24000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

At FL290, received a TCASII TA alert. Our TCASII showed another aircraft at our altitude 10-15 mi away. Called ATC to inform them. TCASII gave us a RA to descend. ATC at that time called to say turn right 30 degrees. We had begun a descent and started turning right informing the controller that our TCASII showed the aircraft approximately 6 mi away at our altitude. We leveled at FL280. The problem arose due to controller loss of separation between the aircraft. In this case the TCASII performed perfectly and possibly saved us from a serious problem. ATC pulled the tapes and is taking action against the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLBING ACFT ENCOUNTERS TCASII RA WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC.

Narrative: AT FL290, RECEIVED A TCASII TA ALERT. OUR TCASII SHOWED ANOTHER ACFT AT OUR ALT 10-15 MI AWAY. CALLED ATC TO INFORM THEM. TCASII GAVE US A RA TO DSND. ATC AT THAT TIME CALLED TO SAY TURN R 30 DEGS. WE HAD BEGUN A DSCNT AND STARTED TURNING R INFORMING THE CTLR THAT OUR TCASII SHOWED THE ACFT APPROX 6 MI AWAY AT OUR ALT. WE LEVELED AT FL280. THE PROB AROSE DUE TO CTLR LOSS OF SEPARATION BTWN THE ACFT. IN THIS CASE THE TCASII PERFORMED PERFECTLY AND POSSIBLY SAVED US FROM A SERIOUS PROB. ATC PULLED THE TAPES AND IS TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE CTLR.

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.