Air carrier allegedly was issued a descent, then a climb for conflicting traffic.

Attributes
ACN	204112
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gqe
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	204112
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

My leg, geg to mem. Given 'cross gilmore at 10000 ft.' established in descent in VMC conditions. Leaving 27600 ft, was told by center to maintain FL280, turn right heading 180 degree. Started turn immediately, 30 degree bank, and applied power and started leveling off. Captain asked center if we were to climb back to FL280 since we were now leaving FL270, and that we were in the right turn to 180. Center came back with 'climb and maintain FL280.' I climbed and almost reached FL280, when center said 'cross gilmore at 10000 ft, cleared direct gilmore, expedite descent through FL260.' I was complying with that when center advised us of traffic, and wanted a report leaving FL260. We called traffic in sight, and reported leaving FL260. Uneventful flight after that. I believe we just did have min separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ALLEGEDLY WAS ISSUED A DSCNT, THEN A CLB FOR CONFLICTING TFC.

Narrative: MY LEG, GEG TO MEM. GIVEN 'CROSS GILMORE AT 10000 FT.' ESTABLISHED IN DSCNT IN VMC CONDITIONS. LEAVING 27600 FT, WAS TOLD BY CTR TO MAINTAIN FL280, TURN R HDG 180 DEG. STARTED TURN IMMEDIATELY, 30 DEG BANK, AND APPLIED PWR AND STARTED LEVELING OFF. CAPT ASKED CTR IF WE WERE TO CLB BACK TO FL280 SINCE WE WERE NOW LEAVING FL270, AND THAT WE WERE IN THE R TURN TO 180. CTR CAME BACK WITH 'CLB AND MAINTAIN FL280.' I CLBED AND ALMOST REACHED FL280, WHEN CTR SAID 'CROSS GILMORE AT 10000 FT, CLRED DIRECT GILMORE, EXPEDITE DSCNT THROUGH FL260.' I WAS COMPLYING WITH THAT WHEN CTR ADVISED US OF TFC, AND WANTED A RPT LEAVING FL260. WE CALLED TFC IN SIGHT, AND RPTED LEAVING FL260. UNEVENTFUL FLT AFTER THAT. I BELIEVE WE JUST DID HAVE MIN SEPARATION.

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.