Air taxi to hold 'clear of TCA squawk 1200'. Had large transport traffic cross in front. Departure c...

Attributes
ACN	115018
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 243 flight time total : 2533 flight time type : 97
ASRS Report	115018
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We departed denver stapleton on a VFR clearance. Altitude requested was 15,500 MSL. We were cleared to climb and maintain 7000 on a northbound heading. Between 12 and 15 DME north of denver VOR, departure control stated, 'you're clear of the TCA, radar service terminated squawk 1200.' we acknowledged and started a climb to 15,500. Passing 13,000-14,000 MSL we sighted an large transport passing from left to right initially sighted at our 10 O'clock. The large transport passed our 12 O'clock 3/4 to 1 mi same altitude. Departure called us (we were monitoring the frequency) back and stated 'you were supposed to maintain 7000' until clear of the TCA.' we replied 'you advised us we were clear of the TCA.' no further xmissions were exchanged. Upon landing I checked the aim which stated 'departure control will normally advise VFR aircraft when leaving the geographical limits of the TCA.' when departure advised that we were clear of the TCA we assumed we were clear first officer the entire TCA. We had only cleared the lower tier. I believe the situation could have been prevented if ATC had been a little more explicit with regard to traffic ahead as they know of our intended climb to 15,500.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TAXI TO HOLD 'CLEAR OF TCA SQUAWK 1200'. HAD LGT TRAFFIC CROSS IN FRONT. DEP CALLED 'SUPPOSED TO REMAIN 7000' UNTIL CLEAR OF TCA.'

Narrative: WE DEPARTED DENVER STAPLETON ON A VFR CLRNC. ALT REQUESTED WAS 15,500 MSL. WE WERE CLRED TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 7000 ON A NBOUND HDG. BETWEEN 12 AND 15 DME N OF DENVER VOR, DEP CTL STATED, 'YOU'RE CLEAR OF THE TCA, RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED SQUAWK 1200.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND STARTED A CLIMB TO 15,500. PASSING 13,000-14,000 MSL WE SIGHTED AN LGT PASSING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INITIALLY SIGHTED AT OUR 10 O'CLOCK. THE LGT PASSED OUR 12 O'CLOCK 3/4 TO 1 MI SAME ALT. DEP CALLED US (WE WERE MONITORING THE FREQ) BACK AND STATED 'YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN 7000' UNTIL CLEAR OF THE TCA.' WE REPLIED 'YOU ADVISED US WE WERE CLEAR OF THE TCA.' NO FURTHER XMISSIONS WERE EXCHANGED. UPON LNDG I CHECKED THE AIM WHICH STATED 'DEP CTL WILL NORMALLY ADVISE VFR ACFT WHEN LEAVING THE GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS OF THE TCA.' WHEN DEP ADVISED THAT WE WERE CLEAR OF THE TCA WE ASSUMED WE WERE CLEAR FO THE ENTIRE TCA. WE HAD ONLY CLRED THE LOWER TIER. I BELIEVE THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF ATC HAD BEEN A LITTLE MORE EXPLICIT WITH REGARD TO TFC AHEAD AS THEY KNOW OF OUR INTENDED CLIMB TO 15,500.

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.

Air taxi to hold 'clear of TCA squawk 1200'. Had large transport traffic cross in front. Departure called 'supposed to remain 7000' until clear of TCA.'