Loss of separation between MD88 at FL290 and a B727 which climbed through assigned altitude of FL280...

Attributes
ACN	397175
Time
Date	199803
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vhp
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : cps
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	controller radar : 4 flight time total : 30
ASRS Report	397175
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4400 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	397172
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I climbed the B727 to FL280. Pilot read back FL280. Aircraft was witnessed leaving FL282 and was asked to verify assigned altitude and responded FL290. Descended immediately to FL280. Aircraft reported level at FL280. At this point other aircraft responded to TCASII alert and descended into the B727. Supplemental information from acn 397069: we were level at FL290 in cruise when we heard another flight climbing out, our location was 115 DME on the 235 degree radial of rod. We heard the controller ask them to level at FL280. The next thing we got was a TA warning followed by an RA to descend rapidly 2000-3000 FPM. We descended as soon as we got the RA and leveled at FL274 where we got clear of conflict on TCASII. In the meantime, the center had told the other aircraft to descend to FL280 -- where they should have leveled in the first place. We called ZID and told them we were leaving altitude because of an RA conflict and after level at FL274, we asked for clearance back to FL290. Supplemental information from acn 397284: we were climbing to FL290. I was flying the aircraft. The autoplt was on and the altitude capture was engaged. Passing FL285 ZID asked what our altitude was. The first officer replied passing FL285, climbing to FL290. The controller said to descend to FL280 immediately, and to be level in 1 min or less. I started to descend to FL280 and was level at FL280 in about 40 seconds. The TCASII indicated another aircraft descending to FL280. The other aircraft passed our aircraft at FL280 about 4 mi off the right side. I saw the first officer dial FL290 into the altitude alert window and I verbally responded FL290. Passing FL280 I said, 'passing FL280 for FL290 altitude selected.' sometimes center will make you aware of other traffic climbing or descending near your altitude. If ZID had said something to us as we approached FL280, this might have been avoided.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF SEPARATION BTWN MD88 AT FL290 AND A B727 WHICH CLBED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT OF FL280. MD88 RECEIVED TCASII RA TO DSND WHILE B727 WAS INSTRUCTED TO DSND TO FL280.

Narrative: I CLBED THE B727 TO FL280. PLT READ BACK FL280. ACFT WAS WITNESSED LEAVING FL282 AND WAS ASKED TO VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT AND RESPONDED FL290. DSNDED IMMEDIATELY TO FL280. ACFT RPTED LEVEL AT FL280. AT THIS POINT OTHER ACFT RESPONDED TO TCASII ALERT AND DSNDED INTO THE B727. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 397069: WE WERE LEVEL AT FL290 IN CRUISE WHEN WE HEARD ANOTHER FLT CLBING OUT, OUR LOCATION WAS 115 DME ON THE 235 DEG RADIAL OF ROD. WE HEARD THE CTLR ASK THEM TO LEVEL AT FL280. THE NEXT THING WE GOT WAS A TA WARNING FOLLOWED BY AN RA TO DSND RAPIDLY 2000-3000 FPM. WE DSNDED AS SOON AS WE GOT THE RA AND LEVELED AT FL274 WHERE WE GOT CLR OF CONFLICT ON TCASII. IN THE MEANTIME, THE CTR HAD TOLD THE OTHER ACFT TO DSND TO FL280 -- WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE LEVELED IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE CALLED ZID AND TOLD THEM WE WERE LEAVING ALT BECAUSE OF AN RA CONFLICT AND AFTER LEVEL AT FL274, WE ASKED FOR CLRNC BACK TO FL290. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 397284: WE WERE CLBING TO FL290. I WAS FLYING THE ACFT. THE AUTOPLT WAS ON AND THE ALT CAPTURE WAS ENGAGED. PASSING FL285 ZID ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. THE FO REPLIED PASSING FL285, CLBING TO FL290. THE CTLR SAID TO DSND TO FL280 IMMEDIATELY, AND TO BE LEVEL IN 1 MIN OR LESS. I STARTED TO DSND TO FL280 AND WAS LEVEL AT FL280 IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS. THE TCASII INDICATED ANOTHER ACFT DSNDING TO FL280. THE OTHER ACFT PASSED OUR ACFT AT FL280 ABOUT 4 MI OFF THE R SIDE. I SAW THE FO DIAL FL290 INTO THE ALT ALERT WINDOW AND I VERBALLY RESPONDED FL290. PASSING FL280 I SAID, 'PASSING FL280 FOR FL290 ALT SELECTED.' SOMETIMES CTR WILL MAKE YOU AWARE OF OTHER TFC CLBING OR DSNDING NEAR YOUR ALT. IF ZID HAD SAID SOMETHING TO US AS WE APCHED FL280, THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

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.

Loss of separation between MD88 at FL290 and a B727 which climbed through assigned altitude of FL280. MD88 received TCASII RA to descend while B727 was instructed to descend to FL280.