Narrative:

Cleared by ZDC to FL210. Switched to next washington frequency, checked in stating we were climbing through FL190 for FL210. We were advised of traffic in opposite direction 1000 ft above, not actual altitude. I noted the traffic on TCASII. It appeared he, too, was at FL210. I asked ATC for the MD80's altitude. Then we received an RA. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the second controller never did say what the actual altitude was of the MD80 during the initial contact. From the phraseology used, the captain of the do-328 assumed it was at FL220. The traffic was not visible on his TCASII until he was out of FL200 and he then told the first officer to start back down, just prior to their receiving an RA for a descent. They were at FL204 at that point. They had a visual on the MD80 and turned right, with the other flight also turning right. While at FL200 ATC asked the reporter for his altitude readout, which was FL210. The captain stated that ATC acted like they had 'goofed' and appeared to gloss over the incident, no explanations or recriminations put to this crew.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CLBING DO-328 DSNDS AND TURNS TO AVOID OPPOSITE DIRECTION IFR MD80 AT FL210, THE ALT ASSIGNED TO THE 328 NEAR ROA, VA.

Narrative: CLRED BY ZDC TO FL210. SWITCHED TO NEXT WASHINGTON FREQ, CHKED IN STATING WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL190 FOR FL210. WE WERE ADVISED OF TFC IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION 1000 FT ABOVE, NOT ACTUAL ALT. I NOTED THE TFC ON TCASII. IT APPEARED HE, TOO, WAS AT FL210. I ASKED ATC FOR THE MD80'S ALT. THEN WE RECEIVED AN RA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE SECOND CTLR NEVER DID SAY WHAT THE ACTUAL ALT WAS OF THE MD80 DURING THE INITIAL CONTACT. FROM THE PHRASEOLOGY USED, THE CAPT OF THE DO-328 ASSUMED IT WAS AT FL220. THE TFC WAS NOT VISIBLE ON HIS TCASII UNTIL HE WAS OUT OF FL200 AND HE THEN TOLD THE FO TO START BACK DOWN, JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RECEIVING AN RA FOR A DSCNT. THEY WERE AT FL204 AT THAT POINT. THEY HAD A VISUAL ON THE MD80 AND TURNED R, WITH THE OTHER FLT ALSO TURNING R. WHILE AT FL200 ATC ASKED THE RPTR FOR HIS ALT READOUT, WHICH WAS FL210. THE CAPT STATED THAT ATC ACTED LIKE THEY HAD 'GOOFED' AND APPEARED TO GLOSS OVER THE INCIDENT, NO EXPLANATIONS OR RECRIMINATIONS PUT TO THIS CREW.

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.