Air carrier flight crew reported they misunderstood ATC's 'climb via' instruction while on the EXTAN...

Attributes
ACN	1314086
Time
Date	201512
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	D01.TRACON
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	SID EXTAN4
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	Descent
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 248
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 165
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

During climb on EXTAN4 SID; crew was leveling off at assigned altitude of 10;000 feet while proceeding direct to kidng intersection. ATC stated 'climb via SID.' unsure of ATC clearance request; PF asked pm to clarify altitude. ATC replied climb to FL230. Crew complied and continued to climb to FL230. At 10;500 MSL the controller notified the crew another aircraft was descending to 12;000 feet directly above. The PF realized this conflict and immediately arrested the climb topping out at 11;400 MSL and began a shallow descent back down to 10;000 MSL. A TCAS RA occurred but the shallow descent already met the TCAS RA requirement with clear of conflict occurring in two seconds. Descending aircraft passed behind and 2000 feet above as viewed on TCAS display.the flight was given direct to extan on the departure and to continue to climb to FL230. Crew was asked to call ATC by phone. Flight continued to destination as filed. During phonecon with ATC; ATC stated they meant the flight to stay at 10;000 MSL until meeting the at or below 10;000 MSL restriction at kidng intersection; climb to FL230. ATC also stated this confusion occurs multiple (said hundreds of) times daily.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported they misunderstood ATC's 'climb via' instruction while on the EXTAN4 RNAV Departure. The flight crew flew through the 10;000 FT crossing restriction at KIDNG intersection; and took evasive action to resolve a conflict RA.

Narrative: During climb on EXTAN4 SID; Crew was leveling off at assigned altitude of 10;000 feet while proceeding direct to KIDNG intersection. ATC stated 'climb via SID.' Unsure of ATC clearance request; PF asked PM to clarify altitude. ATC replied climb to FL230. Crew complied and continued to climb to FL230. At 10;500 MSL the Controller notified the Crew another aircraft was descending to 12;000 feet directly above. The PF realized this conflict and immediately arrested the climb topping out at 11;400 MSL and began a shallow descent back down to 10;000 MSL. A TCAS RA occurred but the shallow descent already met the TCAS RA requirement with clear of conflict occurring in two seconds. Descending aircraft passed behind and 2000 feet above as viewed on TCAS display.The flight was given direct to EXTAN on the departure and to continue to climb to FL230. Crew was asked to call ATC by phone. Flight continued to destination as filed. During phonecon with ATC; ATC stated they meant the FLT to stay at 10;000 MSL until meeting the at or below 10;000 MSL restriction at KIDNG intersection; climb to FL230. ATC also stated this confusion occurs multiple (said hundreds of) times daily.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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 carrier flight crew reported they misunderstood ATC's 'climb via' instruction while on the EXTAN4 RNAV departure. The flight crew flew through the 10;000 ft crossing restriction at kidng intersection; and took evasive action to resolve a conflict RA.