Medium large transport cleared to descend at pilot discretion has TCASII RA, climbs.

Attributes
ACN	212323
Time
Date	199206
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30200 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	212323
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	212313
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Cruising at 31000 ft on middy arrival with clearance to descend to FL240 at pilot's discretion. As I began slow descent from FL310, noticed TA minus 08 on top TCASII. Captain advised ZME when frequency was clear we had started our descent (approximately at 30600). Controller acknowledged, then within a few seconds, controller told us to immediately return to FL310 due to crossing traffic. We were at approximately 30200 ft and I disconnected autoplt and initiated climb back to FL310. Also at this time, TCASII was announcing 'climb, climb' and depicting a rate of 1500 FPM. We were in IMC and did not visually see the traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CLRED TO DSND AT PLT DISCRETION HAS TCASII RA, CLBS.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 31000 FT ON MIDDY ARR WITH CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240 AT PLT'S DISCRETION. AS I BEGAN SLOW DSCNT FROM FL310, NOTICED TA MINUS 08 ON TOP TCASII. CAPT ADVISED ZME WHEN FREQ WAS CLR WE HAD STARTED OUR DSCNT (APPROX AT 30600). CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED, THEN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, CTLR TOLD US TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO FL310 DUE TO XING TFC. WE WERE AT APPROX 30200 FT AND I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND INITIATED CLB BACK TO FL310. ALSO AT THIS TIME, TCASII WAS ANNOUNCING 'CLB, CLB' AND DEPICTING A RATE OF 1500 FPM. WE WERE IN IMC AND DID NOT VISUALLY SEE THE TFC.

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.