A last min turn and descent issued by a ZTL controller prevented a serious conflict between a B757 climbing through FL296 head-on with traffic at FL310.

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Attributes
ACN	600326
Time
Date	200311
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vuz.vortac
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 29600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3755
ASRS Report	600326
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	600326
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic
Miss Distance	horizontal : 48000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

The flight was on climb out after departure from atl. ZTL cleared us to climb and maintain FL310 and direct to mem. Climbing through FL296, we were then told to maintain FL290 and turn 25 degrees right. Traffic was then called out to us at 12 O'clock and 8 mi at FL310. We stopped our climb, topping out at FL299 and descended to FL290. Closest approach to the other aircraft appeared to be 7 NM and 1000 ft. After clearing the other aircraft, we were again assigned FL310. After a frequency change, the new controller asked if we had been given an interim altitude of FL290 prior to the event, which we had not. Although nothing more was said on the air, it seemed to us that there was some confusion or doubt north ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LAST MIN TURN AND DSCNT ISSUED BY A ZTL CTLR PREVENTED A SERIOUS CONFLICT BTWN A B757 CLBING THROUGH FL296 HEAD-ON WITH TFC AT FL310.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS ON CLBOUT AFTER DEP FROM ATL. ZTL CLRED US TO CLB AND MAINTAIN FL310 AND DIRECT TO MEM. CLBING THROUGH FL296, WE WERE THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN FL290 AND TURN 25 DEGS R. TFC WAS THEN CALLED OUT TO US AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 8 MI AT FL310. WE STOPPED OUR CLB, TOPPING OUT AT FL299 AND DSNDED TO FL290. CLOSEST APCH TO THE OTHER ACFT APPEARED TO BE 7 NM AND 1000 FT. AFTER CLRING THE OTHER ACFT, WE WERE AGAIN ASSIGNED FL310. AFTER A FREQ CHANGE, THE NEW CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN GIVEN AN INTERIM ALT OF FL290 PRIOR TO THE EVENT, WHICH WE HAD NOT. ALTHOUGH NOTHING MORE WAS SAID ON THE AIR, IT SEEMED TO US THAT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION OR DOUBT N ATC.

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.