ARTCC cleared large transport to climb through an occupied altitude.

Attributes
ACN	101790
Time
Date	198811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : agu
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hvn
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 : j11
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5500
ASRS Report	101790
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On 11/tue/88 at XA10 local time flight xxyz was climbing to FL350 on J11 northbound between agu and gabli intersection. When I heard air carrier B flight xzab report over gabli intersection at FL330 I told the captain to stop the climb (he leveled off at FL315). The captain told me he thought there wasn't a problem because he thought air carrier B was northbound. After 2 quick attempts to find out from MMMX if air carrier B was southbound. I finally asked air carrier B over the radio. Their response was that they were southbound. When I explained that we were northbound in front of them on the same jetway, cleared through their altitude, their response was, 'oh, great!' the captain said he thought he saw air carrier B fly over us, but we were in cirrus clouds and visibility was reduced. I believe both incidents highlight the importance of proper radio calls, position reports, navigation procedures as well as situation awareness, especially during non radar int'l flying. Both of these incidents have been briefed to our flight operations, and steps have been taken to correct the problem with MMMX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CLEARED LGT TO CLIMB THROUGH AN OCCUPIED ALT.

Narrative: ON 11/TUE/88 AT XA10 LCL TIME FLT XXYZ WAS CLBING TO FL350 ON J11 NBOUND BTWN AGU AND GABLI INTXN. WHEN I HEARD ACR B FLT XZAB RPT OVER GABLI INTXN AT FL330 I TOLD THE CAPT TO STOP THE CLB (HE LEVELED OFF AT FL315). THE CAPT TOLD ME HE THOUGHT THERE WASN'T A PROB BECAUSE HE THOUGHT ACR B WAS NBND. AFTER 2 QUICK ATTEMPTS TO FIND OUT FROM MMMX IF ACR B WAS SBND. I FINALLY ASKED ACR B OVER THE RADIO. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE SBND. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE NBOUND IN FRONT OF THEM ON THE SAME JETWAY, CLRED THROUGH THEIR ALT, THEIR RESPONSE WAS, 'OH, GREAT!' THE CAPT SAID HE THOUGHT HE SAW ACR B FLY OVER US, BUT WE WERE IN CIRRUS CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED. I BELIEVE BOTH INCIDENTS HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER RADIO CALLS, POS RPTS, NAV PROCS AS WELL AS SITUATION AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY DURING NON RADAR INT'L FLYING. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN BRIEFED TO OUR FLT OPS, AND STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PROB WITH MMMX.

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.