ZTL controller assigns A320 incorrect altitude which conflicts with an MD80 at FL290.

Attributes
ACN	517172
Time
Date	200107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tys.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	517172
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 2585
ASRS Report	516970
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were cleared to FL290 from FL260. At FL285 ZTL asked us to confirm assigned altitude FL280. We responded no, FL290. He told us to descend to FL280 and report reaching. We did this within a few seconds. A few mins later, the controller informed us he had mistakenly cleared us to FL290. We were at FL280 when the MD80 passed ahead of us and to the right. Supplemental information from acn 516970: seconds later TCASII issued a TA for traffic at FL290 approximately 2-3 mi away. Within seconds we leveled at FL280 and reported reaching to ZTL. No TCASII RA was issued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR ASSIGNS A320 INCORRECT ALT WHICH CONFLICTS WITH AN MD80 AT FL290.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL290 FROM FL260. AT FL285 ZTL ASKED US TO CONFIRM ASSIGNED ALT FL280. WE RESPONDED NO, FL290. HE TOLD US TO DSND TO FL280 AND RPT REACHING. WE DID THIS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. A FEW MINS LATER, THE CTLR INFORMED US HE HAD MISTAKENLY CLRED US TO FL290. WE WERE AT FL280 WHEN THE MD80 PASSED AHEAD OF US AND TO THE R. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 516970: SECONDS LATER TCASII ISSUED A TA FOR TFC AT FL290 APPROX 2-3 MI AWAY. WITHIN SECONDS WE LEVELED AT FL280 AND RPTED REACHING TO ZTL. NO TCASII RA WAS ISSUED.

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.