Narrative:

We were departing sea on the summa 5 departure SID, using runway 34R. At the 8 mi fix, we turned right to a heading of 070 degrees as per the SID. We previously had been cleared to 15000 ft when we had contacted departure control shortly after takeoff. (Initial altitude clearance on the ground from pre departure clearance had been 9000 ft.) we were now on a heading of 070 degrees when ATC (departure) called 'traffic at 10 O'clock, 10000 ft, higher when clear.' neither pilot heard a directive to 'maintain 9000 ft.' I 'rogered' the TA and looked for the traffic. (The advisory occurred as our aircraft was climbing through 7000-8000 ft.) approaching 9000 ft, I visually acquired the other aircraft at 10000 ft, 10 O'clock. At about the same time, our TCASII announced the 'traffic.' (we did not received an RA.) I advised the copilot, who was flying, and he began to level our aircraft. Shortly thereafter, we received a call from ATC to 'descend to 9000 ft.' we acknowledged 'descending to 9000 ft,' and the highest we reached was approximately 9300 ft. I believe a contributing factor to this incident was the lack of a clearance to 'maintain 9000 ft' after the TA. (I called sea TRACON later and confirmed that no 'maintain 9000 ft' had been issued.)

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLC RECEIVED A TCASII TA ON CLB FROM SEA.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING SEA ON THE SUMMA 5 DEP SID, USING RWY 34R. AT THE 8 MI FIX, WE TURNED R TO A HDG OF 070 DEGS AS PER THE SID. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN CLRED TO 15000 FT WHEN WE HAD CONTACTED DEP CTL SHORTLY AFTER TKOF. (INITIAL ALT CLRNC ON THE GND FROM PDC HAD BEEN 9000 FT.) WE WERE NOW ON A HDG OF 070 DEGS WHEN ATC (DEP) CALLED 'TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK, 10000 FT, HIGHER WHEN CLR.' NEITHER PLT HEARD A DIRECTIVE TO 'MAINTAIN 9000 FT.' I 'ROGERED' THE TA AND LOOKED FOR THE TFC. (THE ADVISORY OCCURRED AS OUR ACFT WAS CLBING THROUGH 7000-8000 FT.) APCHING 9000 FT, I VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE OTHER ACFT AT 10000 FT, 10 O'CLOCK. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, OUR TCASII ANNOUNCED THE 'TFC.' (WE DID NOT RECEIVED AN RA.) I ADVISED THE COPLT, WHO WAS FLYING, AND HE BEGAN TO LEVEL OUR ACFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ATC TO 'DSND TO 9000 FT.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED 'DSNDING TO 9000 FT,' AND THE HIGHEST WE REACHED WAS APPROX 9300 FT. I BELIEVE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS INCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A CLRNC TO 'MAINTAIN 9000 FT' AFTER THE TA. (I CALLED SEA TRACON LATER AND CONFIRMED THAT NO 'MAINTAIN 9000 FT' HAD BEEN ISSUED.)

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.