Narrative:

During departure from iad, air carrier flight xyz was cleared to 14000 ft in the vicinity of lindon VOR. We were level at 14000 ft for several mins when center said, 'air carrier xyz expedite climb through 15000 ft.' I responded, 'air carrier xyz, was only cleared to 14000 ft.' I also had noticed that traffic ahead at 15000 ft was closing and I figured that was why we were only cleared to 14000 ft. Center responded, 'air carrier xyz climb to 17000 ft, expedite through 15000 ft.' I responded 'air carrier xyz climb to 17000 ft and smartly through 15000 ft.' I felt that the traffic ahead at 15000 ft could be a hazard but the fact that center stressed expedite meant that safety required the climb. I set the altitude window to 17000 ft, the first officer confirmed the altitude and he started to climb. After we climbed approximately 100-200 ft the TCASII target turned from white to yellow and I told the first officer to 'put the nose down, I don't like this.' then we got a descend RA. We were already lowering the nose and the first officer followed the guidance on the vertical speed scale. While all this was happening I had visual contact with the traffic and saw him pass overhead as we were leveling at 14000 ft. The RA had ceased. About this time and for the first time I was aware, another air carrier xyz said something to center, and center said something like, 'other air carrier xyz not you.' center again after a short time cleared us to 17000 ft. Center did not say anything about what had happened and we didn't ask. Neither the first officer or I were clear where the breakdown occurred. I did feel however that I should have questioned the climb clearance regarding the traffic ahead.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND CLB CLRNC CONFUSION RESULT IN TFC CONFLICT W OF LDN VOR, VA.

Narrative: DURING DEP FROM IAD, ACR FLT XYZ WAS CLRED TO 14000 FT IN THE VICINITY OF LINDON VOR. WE WERE LEVEL AT 14000 FT FOR SEVERAL MINS WHEN CTR SAID, 'ACR XYZ EXPEDITE CLB THROUGH 15000 FT.' I RESPONDED, 'ACR XYZ, WAS ONLY CLRED TO 14000 FT.' I ALSO HAD NOTICED THAT TFC AHEAD AT 15000 FT WAS CLOSING AND I FIGURED THAT WAS WHY WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 14000 FT. CTR RESPONDED, 'ACR XYZ CLB TO 17000 FT, EXPEDITE THROUGH 15000 FT.' I RESPONDED 'ACR XYZ CLB TO 17000 FT AND SMARTLY THROUGH 15000 FT.' I FELT THAT THE TFC AHEAD AT 15000 FT COULD BE A HAZARD BUT THE FACT THAT CTR STRESSED EXPEDITE MEANT THAT SAFETY REQUIRED THE CLB. I SET THE ALT WINDOW TO 17000 FT, THE FO CONFIRMED THE ALT AND HE STARTED TO CLB. AFTER WE CLBED APPROX 100-200 FT THE TCASII TARGET TURNED FROM WHITE TO YELLOW AND I TOLD THE FO TO 'PUT THE NOSE DOWN, I DON'T LIKE THIS.' THEN WE GOT A DSND RA. WE WERE ALREADY LOWERING THE NOSE AND THE FO FOLLOWED THE GUIDANCE ON THE VERT SPD SCALE. WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING I HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE TFC AND SAW HIM PASS OVERHEAD AS WE WERE LEVELING AT 14000 FT. THE RA HAD CEASED. ABOUT THIS TIME AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS AWARE, ANOTHER ACR XYZ SAID SOMETHING TO CTR, AND CTR SAID SOMETHING LIKE, 'OTHER ACR XYZ NOT YOU.' CTR AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME CLRED US TO 17000 FT. CTR DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WE DIDN'T ASK. NEITHER THE FO OR I WERE CLR WHERE THE BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. I DID FEEL HOWEVER THAT I SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE CLB CLRNC REGARDING THE TFC AHEAD.

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.