Flight crew of a widebody transport responded to climb clearance for another aircraft by climbing, resulting in ATC intervention and TA heading change.

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Attributes
ACN	390620
Time
Date	199801
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dvc
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	390620
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in cruise at FL330, we received a call from ZDV which we understood as follows: 'for traffic, climb to and maintain FL370.' we looked at each other, commented that we didn't want to but were able to, and responded to ZDV, 'leaving FL330 for FL370.' shortly thereafter denver called saying that we had not been cleared to leave FL330, and to return to FL330. This we started to do, when denver gave us a 40 degree heading change to avoid conflict. Maximum altitude reached was FL340 before descent was initiated. Center called us with the position of the traffic and we confirmed visual contact. No TCASII warnings were received. I believe the confusion arose because our reply to denver was not heard, and because the controller was not expecting a reply, as he did not believe he had issued a clearance, he did not repeat his transmission.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A WDB RESPONDED TO CLB CLRNC FOR ANOTHER ACFT BY CLBING, RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION AND TA HEADING CHANGE.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL330, WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ZDV WHICH WE UNDERSTOOD AS FOLLOWS: 'FOR TFC, CLB TO AND MAINTAIN FL370.' WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, COMMENTED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BUT WERE ABLE TO, AND RESPONDED TO ZDV, 'LEAVING FL330 FOR FL370.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER DENVER CALLED SAYING THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED TO LEAVE FL330, AND TO RETURN TO FL330. THIS WE STARTED TO DO, WHEN DENVER GAVE US A 40 DEG HDG CHANGE TO AVOID CONFLICT. MAX ALT REACHED WAS FL340 BEFORE DSCNT WAS INITIATED. CTR CALLED US WITH THE POS OF THE TFC AND WE CONFIRMED VISUAL CONTACT. NO TCASII WARNINGS WERE RECEIVED. I BELIEVE THE CONFUSION AROSE BECAUSE OUR REPLY TO DENVER WAS NOT HEARD, AND BECAUSE THE CTLR WAS NOT EXPECTING A REPLY, AS HE DID NOT BELIEVE HE HAD ISSUED A CLRNC, HE DID NOT REPEAT HIS XMISSION.

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.