Narrative:

We were approximately 120 NM southeast of dnj VOR heading about 250 degrees while deviating around WX at FL350. As we passed the west end of the line of thunderstorms we contacted ZLC on 128.35 and informed them that we were turning back toward the northwest and requested a heading for PDT. The controller gave us a frequency change and said the next controller would give us a heading. When we contacted the next controller on 121.15 he gave us an immediate left turn to 190 degrees. At the same time, our TCASII called out a TA and gave us a descend command. After we had turned about 45 degrees and descended about 500 ft we located another aircraft heading the opposite direction at the altitude that we had vacated. With the TCASII display on our radar we were able to locate the other aircraft without difficulty. He did seem to be in a climbing right turn by the time we were able to positively identify him as a widebody transport. I was not able to identify the company. The closest approach between our aircraft was about 2 1/2 to 3 mi. It seems to me that this incident was caused when 2 different aircraft in different ATC sectors were deviating around WX and there was inadequate coordination between controllers. An additional factor would be that the other aircraft was at the wrong altitude for the direction of flight. The TCASII worked as advertised and gave us timely warning and good direction. Either the turn given us by the controller or the TCASII resolution would have been adequate to avoid any closer approach between aircraft. Combined they were more than sufficient. Supplemental information from acn 214107: air carrier widebody transport Y was eastbound at FL350 for traffic deviating for WX. Air carrier X, an large transport, was wbound at FL350 also deviating. As the aircraft converged, air carrier Y was asked to climb to FL370 and was unable. Also unable to take turns due to WX. Air carrier X was called to take a turn or altitude change and was not on frequency. He finally did call as he finished deviating and turned towards his filed route, compounding the problem. The aircraft passed with 2 1/2 NM and 200 ft or so vertical.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 ACRS DEVIATING AROUND WX HAVE LTSS.

Narrative: WE WERE APPROX 120 NM SE OF DNJ VOR HDG ABOUT 250 DEGS WHILE DEVIATING AROUND WX AT FL350. AS WE PASSED THE W END OF THE LINE OF TSTMS WE CONTACTED ZLC ON 128.35 AND INFORMED THEM THAT WE WERE TURNING BACK TOWARD THE NW AND REQUESTED A HDG FOR PDT. THE CTLR GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE AND SAID THE NEXT CTLR WOULD GIVE US A HDG. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE NEXT CTLR ON 121.15 HE GAVE US AN IMMEDIATE L TURN TO 190 DEGS. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR TCASII CALLED OUT A TA AND GAVE US A DSND COMMAND. AFTER WE HAD TURNED ABOUT 45 DEGS AND DSNDED ABOUT 500 FT WE LOCATED ANOTHER ACFT HDG THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE ALT THAT WE HAD VACATED. WITH THE TCASII DISPLAY ON OUR RADAR WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE OTHER ACFT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. HE DID SEEM TO BE IN A CLBING R TURN BY THE TIME WE WERE ABLE TO POSITIVELY IDENT HIM AS A WDB. I WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENT THE COMPANY. THE CLOSEST APCH BTWN OUR ACFT WAS ABOUT 2 1/2 TO 3 MI. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED WHEN 2 DIFFERENT ACFT IN DIFFERENT ATC SECTORS WERE DEVIATING AROUND WX AND THERE WAS INADEQUATE COORD BTWN CTLRS. AN ADDITIONAL FACTOR WOULD BE THAT THE OTHER ACFT WAS AT THE WRONG ALT FOR THE DIRECTION OF FLT. THE TCASII WORKED AS ADVERTISED AND GAVE US TIMELY WARNING AND GOOD DIRECTION. EITHER THE TURN GIVEN US BY THE CTLR OR THE TCASII RESOLUTION WOULD HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE TO AVOID ANY CLOSER APCH BTWN ACFT. COMBINED THEY WERE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 214107: ACR WDB Y WAS EBOUND AT FL350 FOR TFC DEVIATING FOR WX. ACR X, AN LGT, WAS WBOUND AT FL350 ALSO DEVIATING. AS THE ACFT CONVERGED, ACR Y WAS ASKED TO CLB TO FL370 AND WAS UNABLE. ALSO UNABLE TO TAKE TURNS DUE TO WX. ACR X WAS CALLED TO TAKE A TURN OR ALT CHANGE AND WAS NOT ON FREQ. HE FINALLY DID CALL AS HE FINISHED DEVIATING AND TURNED TOWARDS HIS FILED RTE, COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM. THE ACFT PASSED WITH 2 1/2 NM AND 200 FT OR SO VERT.

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.