Potential conflict between climbing and descending opposite direction traffic.

Attributes
ACN	183918
Time
Date	199107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : igb
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mbs
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	183918
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 8000 vertical : 1250
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Error
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

While en route from bhm to dfw a very late turn was necessary to separate us from eastbound traffic. While climbing from 15000 ft to FL230 at approximately FL220 the copilot sighted traffic at 12 O'clock estimated at 5-8 NM and approximately co-altitude. We first assumed that the traffic was also westbound, but quickly recognized that it was coming right at us. At almost the same time approach control issued a turn of 20 degree for the traffic followed immediately by a 20 degree turn for us. Initially, the traffic began to turn in the wrong direction but quickly corrected. We passed the mlt Y off our right wing as we leveled at FL230. The entire incident occurred in less than 60 seconds. I have to assume that non-standard separation occurred since the controller issued such a late turn to both aircraft. The controller never indicated any degree of danger existed. Immediately following this we were handed off to mem ARTCC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT BTWN CLBING AND DSNDING OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM BHM TO DFW A VERY LATE TURN WAS NECESSARY TO SEPARATE US FROM EBOUND TFC. WHILE CLBING FROM 15000 FT TO FL230 AT APPROX FL220 THE COPLT SIGHTED TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK ESTIMATED AT 5-8 NM AND APPROX CO-ALT. WE FIRST ASSUMED THAT THE TFC WAS ALSO WBND, BUT QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS COMING R AT US. AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME APCH CTL ISSUED A TURN OF 20 DEG FOR THE TFC FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A 20 DEG TURN FOR US. INITIALLY, THE TFC BEGAN TO TURN IN THE WRONG DIRECTION BUT QUICKLY CORRECTED. WE PASSED THE MLT Y OFF OUR R WING AS WE LEVELED AT FL230. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN LESS THAN 60 SECS. I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT NON-STANDARD SEPARATION OCCURRED SINCE THE CTLR ISSUED SUCH A LATE TURN TO BOTH ACFT. THE CTLR NEVER INDICATED ANY DEG OF DANGER EXISTED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS WE WERE HANDED OFF TO MEM ARTCC.

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