B757 flight crew react to TCASII alert when climbing to a new ZJX issued altitude.

Attributes
ACN	467055
Time
Date	200003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 110
ASRS Report	467055
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 : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

During climb out of orlando, we were cleared direct cross city and FL280, as we climbed through approximately FL260 ZJX stated ('to make sure we are on the same page, cleared to FL290'). We read back 'FL290.' captain set it in our altitude select window and I verified it. As we passed FL281 our TCASII alerted us with a TA. As we looked outside for the traffic, we realized the conflict aircraft was at FL290. At about the same time we received a 'descend' RA, and at that time, captain said he had the aircraft and turned off the autoplt, followed the RA and descended to FL280. As all of this was going on ATC stated 'air carrier X, maintain FL280.' we stated we were cleared to FL290, and were following an RA. After we were clear of conflict, ATC cleared us to maintain FL280. We queried ATC about the incident. They said it would be sorted out after 'the tapes were pulled.' our altitude setting procedures are very standard. I am positive that we were cleared to FL290, but I feel I should have been more suspicious because of the small (1000 ft) change in altitude. Looking back I would have asked ATC to clarify.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLC REACT TO TCASII ALERT WHEN CLBING TO A NEW ZJX ISSUED ALT.

Narrative: DURING CLB OUT OF ORLANDO, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT CROSS CITY AND FL280, AS WE CLBED THROUGH APPROX FL260 ZJX STATED ('TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, CLRED TO FL290'). WE READ BACK 'FL290.' CAPT SET IT IN OUR ALT SELECT WINDOW AND I VERIFIED IT. AS WE PASSED FL281 OUR TCASII ALERTED US WITH A TA. AS WE LOOKED OUTSIDE FOR THE TFC, WE REALIZED THE CONFLICT ACFT WAS AT FL290. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE RECEIVED A 'DSND' RA, AND AT THAT TIME, CAPT SAID HE HAD THE ACFT AND TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT, FOLLOWED THE RA AND DSNDED TO FL280. AS ALL OF THIS WAS GOING ON ATC STATED 'ACR X, MAINTAIN FL280.' WE STATED WE WERE CLRED TO FL290, AND WERE FOLLOWING AN RA. AFTER WE WERE CLR OF CONFLICT, ATC CLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL280. WE QUERIED ATC ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE SORTED OUT AFTER 'THE TAPES WERE PULLED.' OUR ALT SETTING PROCS ARE VERY STANDARD. I AM POSITIVE THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FL290, BUT I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE OF THE SMALL (1000 FT) CHANGE IN ALT. LOOKING BACK I WOULD HAVE ASKED ATC TO CLARIFY.

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.