Close proximity air carrier medium large transport climbing in positive control area near psb.

Attributes
ACN	117195
Time
Date	198907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : psb
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
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 : 12500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	117195
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departing mdt airport, flight was given clearance by initial cleveland center controller to climb to 15,000' and heading 360 degree. At 15,000' we were told we were to go direct to psb VOR. Climbing through about 14.500' controller cleared us direct psb (heading about 310 degree) and to climb to FL270. At about 17,000' controller asked our rate of climb and we reported we were climbing at 2000 FPM. Controller asked if we could maintain our rate of climb through FL209 and we responded affirmative. At about FL190, he urgently turned us to heading 180 degree and gave other traffic an immediate turn to heading 180 degree. As we rolled through about 210 degree to 230 degree, he turned us back right heading 280 degree to join airway. We were about on the psb 172 degree radial and 17 DME when given this heading which would not intercept J60. He did not tell us which airway to intercept, so we assumed J60. Harrisburg VOR was inoperative causing V33 to be inoperative. He did seem slightly confused about our route of flight on J60. He said 'he called us 4 times and we did not respond'. That is not true, we responded each time. It seems our climbing flight and conflicting descending flight were too close and should not have been cleared that way. Also, harrisburg VOR OTS contributed to problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX ACR MLG CLIMBING IN PCA NEAR PSB.

Narrative: DEPARTING MDT ARPT, FLT WAS GIVEN CLRNC BY INITIAL CLEVELAND CENTER CTLR TO CLIMB TO 15,000' AND HDG 360 DEG. AT 15,000' WE WERE TOLD WE WERE TO GO DIRECT TO PSB VOR. CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 14.500' CTLR CLRED US DIRECT PSB (HDG ABOUT 310 DEG) AND TO CLIMB TO FL270. AT ABOUT 17,000' CTLR ASKED OUR RATE OF CLIMB AND WE REPORTED WE WERE CLIMBING AT 2000 FPM. CTLR ASKED IF WE COULD MAINTAIN OUR RATE OF CLIMB THROUGH FL209 AND WE RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVE. AT ABOUT FL190, HE URGENTLY TURNED US TO HDG 180 DEG AND GAVE OTHER TFC AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO HDG 180 DEG. AS WE ROLLED THROUGH ABOUT 210 DEG TO 230 DEG, HE TURNED US BACK RIGHT HDG 280 DEG TO JOIN AIRWAY. WE WERE ABOUT ON THE PSB 172 DEG RADIAL AND 17 DME WHEN GIVEN THIS HDG WHICH WOULD NOT INTERCEPT J60. HE DID NOT TELL US WHICH AIRWAY TO INTERCEPT, SO WE ASSUMED J60. HARRISBURG VOR WAS INOPERATIVE CAUSING V33 TO BE INOPERATIVE. HE DID SEEM SLIGHTLY CONFUSED ABOUT OUR ROUTE OF FLT ON J60. HE SAID 'HE CALLED US 4 TIMES AND WE DID NOT RESPOND'. THAT IS NOT TRUE, WE RESPONDED EACH TIME. IT SEEMS OUR CLIMBING FLT AND CONFLICTING DESCENDING FLT WERE TOO CLOSE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLRED THAT WAY. ALSO, HARRISBURG VOR OTS CONTRIBUTED TO PROBLEM.

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.