Narrative:

On departure we (aircraft X) were given clearance to climb to 17000 ft very early in the climb. We noted it as unusual, but both recall hearing the clearance. Passing 9500 ft or so, we received a TCASII 'TA' regarding an aircraft Y, inbound on the arrival at 11000 ft. First officer reduced climb on his own initiative and shortly thereafter we received an RA 'descend' with which we complied. During maneuver, ATC called to advise us of traffic which was then passing abeam. We advised ATC of the RA, and resumed climb as per clearance after 'clear of conflict.' nearest approach according to TCASII was 400 ft and 2 1/2 mi. ATC appeared to be undermanned and quite busy at the time. Supplemental information from acn 422992: the controller was quite busy and said that he was working 3 frequencys at the time. The closest we came to the other aircraft was about 400 ft vertically and 2 1/2 mi horizontally.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLBING MD80S FLC OBSERVE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC AND INITIATE EVASIVE ACTION. WHEN CLR OF TFC, MD80 CONTINUES CLB.

Narrative: ON DEP WE (ACFT X) WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO CLB TO 17000 FT VERY EARLY IN THE CLB. WE NOTED IT AS UNUSUAL, BUT BOTH RECALL HEARING THE CLRNC. PASSING 9500 FT OR SO, WE RECEIVED A TCASII 'TA' REGARDING AN ACFT Y, INBOUND ON THE ARR AT 11000 FT. FO REDUCED CLB ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE RECEIVED AN RA 'DSND' WITH WHICH WE COMPLIED. DURING MANEUVER, ATC CALLED TO ADVISE US OF TFC WHICH WAS THEN PASSING ABEAM. WE ADVISED ATC OF THE RA, AND RESUMED CLB AS PER CLRNC AFTER 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' NEAREST APCH ACCORDING TO TCASII WAS 400 FT AND 2 1/2 MI. ATC APPEARED TO BE UNDERMANNED AND QUITE BUSY AT THE TIME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 422992: THE CTLR WAS QUITE BUSY AND SAID THAT HE WAS WORKING 3 FREQS AT THE TIME. THE CLOSEST WE CAME TO THE OTHER ACFT WAS ABOUT 400 FT VERTLY AND 2 1/2 MI HORIZLY.

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.