Less than standard separation between 2 air carrier aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	86030
Time
Date	198804
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkc
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16300 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hue
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : j24
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	86030
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On climb out from mci, kc center cleared us (large transport X) to FL230. Between XA29 and XA32 we were given several altitude changes of FL230, 170 and 180. At approximately XA32 we noticed landing lights at what looked like the same altitude and opp direction. We took evasive action by increasing our rate of climb. The other aircraft was air carrier Y on descent into mci. It appeared to pass underneath us by approximately 700'. The controller never called out our traffic. He was hesitant to assign a lower altitude and seemed confused during the entire incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN 2 ACR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM MCI, KC CENTER CLRED US (LGT X) TO FL230. BTWN XA29 AND XA32 WE WERE GIVEN SEVERAL ALT CHANGES OF FL230, 170 AND 180. AT APPROX XA32 WE NOTICED LNDG LIGHTS AT WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE SAME ALT AND OPP DIRECTION. WE TOOK EVASIVE ACTION BY INCREASING OUR RATE OF CLB. THE OTHER ACFT WAS ACR Y ON DSCNT INTO MCI. IT APPEARED TO PASS UNDERNEATH US BY APPROX 700'. THE CTLR NEVER CALLED OUT OUR TFC. HE WAS HESITANT TO ASSIGN A LOWER ALT AND SEEMED CONFUSED DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.