Narrative:

Tower departure instructions were, turn right 250 degrees, and climb to 3000 ft via capital 5 departure. At approximately 1900 ft MSL, departure control gave us a 340 degree turn and climb to 9000 ft. We acknowledged our new clearance. Climbing through 7900 ft MSL, we had traffic visibly and on TCASII descending through 8800 ft MSL. At a distance closing to us of 4 NM and opposite direction, and our altitude approaching the other aircraft, we contacted departure to alert them of our traffic and the distance which got down to 2 1/2 - 3 NM and passing off to our left. The controller responded that we were only cleared to 7000 ft MSL. We acknowledged with 'negative,' and responded with 'cleared to 9000 ft.' the controller did not question us further and we asked for the telephone number to contact him after landing at ttn for confirmation of the 9000 ft MSL clearance. We returned to ttn and called the supervisor of iad tower. He responded that we were in fact cleared to 9000 ft MSL with the controller writing down 7000 ft MSL and verbally giving us 9000 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEPARTING BE40 QUESTIONS IAD CTLR OBSERVING ANOTHER ACFT DSNDING ABEAM OF HIS TRACK LESS THAN 3 MI.

Narrative: TWR DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE, TURN R 250 DEGS, AND CLB TO 3000 FT VIA CAPITAL 5 DEP. AT APPROX 1900 FT MSL, DEP CTL GAVE US A 340 DEG TURN AND CLB TO 9000 FT. WE ACKNOWLEDGED OUR NEW CLRNC. CLBING THROUGH 7900 FT MSL, WE HAD TFC VISIBLY AND ON TCASII DSNDING THROUGH 8800 FT MSL. AT A DISTANCE CLOSING TO US OF 4 NM AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND OUR ALT APCHING THE OTHER ACFT, WE CONTACTED DEP TO ALERT THEM OF OUR TFC AND THE DISTANCE WHICH GOT DOWN TO 2 1/2 - 3 NM AND PASSING OFF TO OUR L. THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT WE WERE ONLY CLRED TO 7000 FT MSL. WE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH 'NEGATIVE,' AND RESPONDED WITH 'CLRED TO 9000 FT.' THE CTLR DID NOT QUESTION US FURTHER AND WE ASKED FOR THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT HIM AFTER LNDG AT TTN FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE 9000 FT MSL CLRNC. WE RETURNED TO TTN AND CALLED THE SUPVR OF IAD TWR. HE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE IN FACT CLRED TO 9000 FT MSL WITH THE CTLR WRITING DOWN 7000 FT MSL AND VERBALLY GIVING US 9000 FT.

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.