B737-200 flight crew has a TCAS alert while climbing to altitude.

Attributes
ACN	723436
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hnl.vortac
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl single value : 14400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhn.artcc artcc : lecb.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhn.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate 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 : 180 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	723436
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were on V2 (hnl R-110) climbing to 13000 ft. After contacting center; he instructed us to fly a 095 degree heading for traffic and told us to climb to FL230. After a short while; center cleared us to the koa VOR. We were climbing through 14000 ft and proceeding direct to the koa VOR when center instructed us to maintain 13000 ft at which point I noticed we were already climbing through 14400 ft and my first officer questioned center by saying; 'we're climbing through 14400 ft and you want us to descend to 13000 ft?' I noticed on the readout that we had +4 or 400 ft vertical separation and felt that if we descended we would be in the conflicting traffic's path. The TCAS then instructed us not to descend and we got a visual on the B717 at our 11 O'clock low position. He passed directly under us at approximately 500 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-200 FLT CREW HAS A TCAS ALERT WHILE CLIMBING TO ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON V2 (HNL R-110) CLBING TO 13000 FT. AFTER CONTACTING CTR; HE INSTRUCTED US TO FLY A 095 DEG HDG FOR TFC AND TOLD US TO CLB TO FL230. AFTER A SHORT WHILE; CTR CLRED US TO THE KOA VOR. WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 14000 FT AND PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THE KOA VOR WHEN CTR INSTRUCTED US TO MAINTAIN 13000 FT AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED WE WERE ALREADY CLBING THROUGH 14400 FT AND MY FO QUESTIONED CTR BY SAYING; 'WE'RE CLBING THROUGH 14400 FT AND YOU WANT US TO DSND TO 13000 FT?' I NOTICED ON THE READOUT THAT WE HAD +4 OR 400 FT VERT SEPARATION AND FELT THAT IF WE DSNDED WE WOULD BE IN THE CONFLICTING TFC'S PATH. THE TCAS THEN INSTRUCTED US NOT TO DSND AND WE GOT A VISUAL ON THE B717 AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK LOW POS. HE PASSED DIRECTLY UNDER US AT APPROX 500 FT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.