Narrative:

We were flying from sna to sea and level at FL310. We were near czq and cleared RNAV direct to btg. We received a TCASII TA from an aircraft approaching us head-on and climbing. We were on a heading of 320 degrees magnetic. We started a climb and the controller, in an urgent voice, told first officer immediately descend back to FL290 and for us to turn to a heading of 250 degrees. I was able to make a smooth 30 degree turn and no one was injured. The last time I looked before making the turn, the other aircraft was 900 ft from our elevation and 5- 8 mi and closing. I climbed to about FL315 and descended back to FL310 when the TCASII resolution ceased and the TCASII showed us clear of traffic and the other aircraft at FL290. I don't know why the other aircraft was climbing into our assigned altitude but when the controller questioned the other pilot I thought he said he was climbing to FL330. I talked to the controller's supervisor and the supervisor indicated it was a 'hearing misunderstanding.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN MLG CLBED IN RESPONSE TO A TCASII RA AFTER TURNING OFF COURSE IN RESPONSE TO ARTCC CTLR REQUEST IN PROVIDING SEPARATION OF ONCOMING TFC THAT WAS CLBING INTO RPTR'S ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING FROM SNA TO SEA AND LEVEL AT FL310. WE WERE NEAR CZQ AND CLRED RNAV DIRECT TO BTG. WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA FROM AN ACFT APCHING US HEAD-ON AND CLBING. WE WERE ON A HDG OF 320 DEGS MAGNETIC. WE STARTED A CLB AND THE CTLR, IN AN URGENT VOICE, TOLD FO IMMEDIATELY DSND BACK TO FL290 AND FOR US TO TURN TO A HDG OF 250 DEGS. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SMOOTH 30 DEG TURN AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED BEFORE MAKING THE TURN, THE OTHER ACFT WAS 900 FT FROM OUR ELEVATION AND 5- 8 MI AND CLOSING. I CLBED TO ABOUT FL315 AND DSNDED BACK TO FL310 WHEN THE TCASII RESOLUTION CEASED AND THE TCASII SHOWED US CLR OF TFC AND THE OTHER ACFT AT FL290. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE OTHER ACFT WAS CLBING INTO OUR ASSIGNED ALT BUT WHEN THE CTLR QUESTIONED THE OTHER PLT I THOUGHT HE SAID HE WAS CLBING TO FL330. I TALKED TO THE CTLR'S SUPVR AND THE SUPVR INDICATED IT WAS A 'HEARING MISUNDERSTANDING.'

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.