A B737-300 captain described what he thought was an operational error by ZBW at thumb intersection.

Attributes
ACN	482436
Time
Date	200008
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : thumb
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : cstl 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	482436
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

IFR bdl to dca. On the CSTL2.CCC departure at thumb intersection. Level at 14000 ft MSL, ZBW cleared us to climb to FL200. At 14400 ft, ATC advised us to maintain 14000 ft because of traffic. TCASII gave TA then RA 'descend.' cpr jet observed at 1 O'clock, 1000 ft above, 2-3 NM away crossing west to east. We were headed south. Captain and first officer are absolutely positive that FL200 was issued. This crew feels that this event was caused by ATC error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 CAPT DESCRIBED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN OPERROR BY ZBW AT THUMB INTXN.

Narrative: IFR BDL TO DCA. ON THE CSTL2.CCC DEP AT THUMB INTXN. LEVEL AT 14000 FT MSL, ZBW CLRED US TO CLB TO FL200. AT 14400 FT, ATC ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN 14000 FT BECAUSE OF TFC. TCASII GAVE TA THEN RA 'DSND.' CPR JET OBSERVED AT 1 O'CLOCK, 1000 FT ABOVE, 2-3 NM AWAY XING W TO E. WE WERE HEADED S. CAPT AND FO ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT FL200 WAS ISSUED. THIS CREW FEELS THAT THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY ATC ERROR.

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.