Descending air carrier flight crew initiates evasive climb when receiving TCASII TA RA due to opposite direction climbing aircraft. Air carrier reclred to lower altitude when traffic conflict no longer a factor.

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Attributes
ACN	422721
Time
Date	199812
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ape
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25800 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14400 flight time type : 4600
ASRS Report	422721
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	controller military : 9 controller radar : 35 flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	422728
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2800 vertical : 900
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We (aircraft X) were descending into cvg on cince 3 arrival. Cleared direct to bowrr from north of ape. We were descending from FL270 to FL250. Received TA with aircraft Y just inside 10 mi ring. Aircraft Y was climbing through FL240 opposite direction, head- on. Shortly thereafter, TA changed to RA and commanded initial climb of 300-500 ft. In seconds, RA changed to climb in excess of 2500 ft. Disconnected autoplt with initial RA and climbed back to FL270. Resumed descent. Captain informed center of incident and we were reclred to FL240. Center later offered to buy us a beer. During the incident, we were as low as FL258. After 'clear of conflict' TCASII screen displayed other aircraft Y at FL258 behind us. We were too busy to note exactly how close we came to the other aircraft. None of us ever saw the other aircraft as we were in a cirrus layer. My initial feeling was denial. This couldn't be happening to me -- especially at this altitude. Then we all reacted per simulator training. Needless to say, I have a lot more faith in the TCASII.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DSNDING ACR FLC INITIATES EVASIVE CLB WHEN RECEIVING TCASII TA RA DUE TO OPPOSITE DIRECTION CLBING ACFT. ACR RECLRED TO LOWER ALT WHEN TFC CONFLICT NO LONGER A FACTOR.

Narrative: WE (ACFT X) WERE DSNDING INTO CVG ON CINCE 3 ARR. CLRED DIRECT TO BOWRR FROM N OF APE. WE WERE DSNDING FROM FL270 TO FL250. RECEIVED TA WITH ACFT Y JUST INSIDE 10 MI RING. ACFT Y WAS CLBING THROUGH FL240 OPPOSITE DIRECTION, HEAD- ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TA CHANGED TO RA AND COMMANDED INITIAL CLB OF 300-500 FT. IN SECONDS, RA CHANGED TO CLB IN EXCESS OF 2500 FT. DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT WITH INITIAL RA AND CLBED BACK TO FL270. RESUMED DSCNT. CAPT INFORMED CTR OF INCIDENT AND WE WERE RECLRED TO FL240. CTR LATER OFFERED TO BUY US A BEER. DURING THE INCIDENT, WE WERE AS LOW AS FL258. AFTER 'CLR OF CONFLICT' TCASII SCREEN DISPLAYED OTHER ACFT Y AT FL258 BEHIND US. WE WERE TOO BUSY TO NOTE EXACTLY HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO THE OTHER ACFT. NONE OF US EVER SAW THE OTHER ACFT AS WE WERE IN A CIRRUS LAYER. MY INITIAL FEELING WAS DENIAL. THIS COULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO ME -- ESPECIALLY AT THIS ALT. THEN WE ALL REACTED PER SIMULATOR TRAINING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE A LOT MORE FAITH IN THE TCASII.

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.