B737 flight crew has TCASII RA during climb to altitude.

Attributes
ACN	521560
Time
Date	200108
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : swl.vortac
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 20700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 174 flight time total : 7430 flight time type : 2317
ASRS Report	521560
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We were established on course direct swl. Previous sector had cleared us to climb to our planned cruise altitude of FL310. Passing FL200, our TCASII issued a TA for traffic 1 O'clock position, level at FL210. At FL207 the TCASII RA went off issuing a descent. The first officer initiated a descent and ATC, after notification, issued a descent to FL200. Traffic passed off our right side. When we asked, we were told traffic was a cessna citation at FL210. The FAA continues to pack more and more traffic into the congested airspace of the east coast. This is the 4TH near midair collision I've experienced in as many months -- all in 'controled' airspace. The only thing preventing disaster is luck and TCASII.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS TCASII RA DURING CLB TO ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON COURSE DIRECT SWL. PREVIOUS SECTOR HAD CLRED US TO CLB TO OUR PLANNED CRUISE ALT OF FL310. PASSING FL200, OUR TCASII ISSUED A TA FOR TFC 1 O'CLOCK POS, LEVEL AT FL210. AT FL207 THE TCASII RA WENT OFF ISSUING A DSCNT. THE FO INITIATED A DSCNT AND ATC, AFTER NOTIFICATION, ISSUED A DSCNT TO FL200. TFC PASSED OFF OUR R SIDE. WHEN WE ASKED, WE WERE TOLD TFC WAS A CESSNA CITATION AT FL210. THE FAA CONTINUES TO PACK MORE AND MORE TFC INTO THE CONGESTED AIRSPACE OF THE E COAST. THIS IS THE 4TH NMAC I'VE EXPERIENCED IN AS MANY MONTHS -- ALL IN 'CTLED' AIRSPACE. THE ONLY THING PREVENTING DISASTER IS LUCK AND 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.