Narrative:

We were level FL350 when received a TA and the traffic was approaching from the south. I thought that the traffic was 800 ft below us; when it was actually 800 ft above us. I began a slow climb (300 FPM); with the intentions of climbing about 100 ft above our altitude. I indicated to the captain what I was doing; however it appears likely that he never heard me. Momentarily after I increased the altitude; I then heard him call out 800 ft and I increased the rate of climb. He then said what are you doing! The aircraft is above us descend immediately! I immediately initiated a descent; then we received an RA. We heard the RA audio state; 'descend descend now.' at the apex of the maneuver we were no more than FL352. When the aircraft passed we were level at FL350. Cause: 1) I interpreted the information incorrectly (+800) thinking we were above the inbound aircraft; when we in fact were below the incoming aircraft. 2) I did not follow SOP's and wait for the RA before initiating a change in altitude. 3) I did not communicate effectively with the captain prior to my decision to climb. My communication to the captain was ineffectively accomplished as I was initiating the climb (I was not heard due to not speaking clearly and loud enough). To prevent future occurrence. 1) follow SOP's (wait for RA to make correction). 2) communicate with the captain clearly and loud enough to be heard. 3) visualize the position of the aircraft on the TCAS display often to ensure the correct interpretation of the information. In summary: this is a mistake that will be burned in my mind for the rest of my life. I own this mistake 100%. The captain did all he could do under the circumstances.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 FO INITIATED CLB DURING CRUISE FOR ADDITIONAL SEPARATION FROM TCAS TFC HE THOUGHT TO BE BELOW. TFC WAS ACTUALLY ABOVE AND THIS TRIGGERED AN RA.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL FL350 WHEN RECEIVED A TA AND THE TFC WAS APCHING FROM THE S. I THOUGHT THAT THE TFC WAS 800 FT BELOW US; WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY 800 FT ABOVE US. I BEGAN A SLOW CLB (300 FPM); WITH THE INTENTIONS OF CLBING ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE OUR ALT. I INDICATED TO THE CAPT WHAT I WAS DOING; HOWEVER IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT HE NEVER HEARD ME. MOMENTARILY AFTER I INCREASED THE ALT; I THEN HEARD HIM CALL OUT 800 FT AND I INCREASED THE RATE OF CLB. HE THEN SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING! THE ACFT IS ABOVE US DSND IMMEDIATELY! I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DSCNT; THEN WE RECEIVED AN RA. WE HEARD THE RA AUDIO STATE; 'DSND DSND NOW.' AT THE APEX OF THE MANEUVER WE WERE NO MORE THAN FL352. WHEN THE ACFT PASSED WE WERE LEVEL AT FL350. CAUSE: 1) I INTERPRETED THE INFO INCORRECTLY (+800) THINKING WE WERE ABOVE THE INBOUND ACFT; WHEN WE IN FACT WERE BELOW THE INCOMING ACFT. 2) I DID NOT FOLLOW SOP'S AND WAIT FOR THE RA BEFORE INITIATING A CHANGE IN ALT. 3) I DID NOT COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE CAPT PRIOR TO MY DECISION TO CLB. MY COM TO THE CAPT WAS INEFFECTIVELY ACCOMPLISHED AS I WAS INITIATING THE CLB (I WAS NOT HEARD DUE TO NOT SPEAKING CLRLY AND LOUD ENOUGH). TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE. 1) FOLLOW SOP'S (WAIT FOR RA TO MAKE CORRECTION). 2) COMMUNICATE WITH THE CAPT CLRLY AND LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD. 3) VISUALIZE THE POS OF THE ACFT ON THE TCAS DISPLAY OFTEN TO ENSURE THE CORRECT INTERP OF THE INFO. IN SUMMARY: THIS IS A MISTAKE THAT WILL BE BURNED IN MY MIND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I OWN THIS MISTAKE 100%. THE CAPT DID ALL HE COULD DO UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

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.