CL60 flight crew with ZTL experienced a loss of separation and a TCASII RA at FL240 during WX deviat...

Attributes
ACN	625494
Time
Date	200407
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	625494
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While at FL230, ZTL (125.92) gave us a left turn to 270 degrees. Our aircraft was at that time on a 040 degree heading for WX. As there appeared to be no urgency in the call, I instructed my first officer to decline that vector due to thunderstorms in close proximity to us. ZTL then gave us a climb to FL260. While climbing through FL240 we received a 'traffic, traffic' alert from TCASII. Atl told us to report level at FL260. Atl then told us to go back down to FL230 immediately. TCASII then turned red (RA) with a 'climb, climb' instruction. I disregarded ZTL's instruction to descend, turned off the autoplt, and initiated an immediate climb. We cleared the conflict at approximately FL255. ATC was notified that we were following our TCASII instructions, not theirs. The conflicting aircraft was acquired visually by the first officer and the aircraft passed to our right and approximately 300-400 ft below us. A different controller came on the frequency almost immediately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL60 FLT CREW WITH ZTL EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF SEPARATION AND A TCASII RA AT FL240 DURING WX DEV OPS.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL230, ZTL (125.92) GAVE US A L TURN TO 270 DEGS. OUR ACFT WAS AT THAT TIME ON A 040 DEG HDG FOR WX. AS THERE APPEARED TO BE NO URGENCY IN THE CALL, I INSTRUCTED MY FO TO DECLINE THAT VECTOR DUE TO TSTMS IN CLOSE PROX TO US. ZTL THEN GAVE US A CLB TO FL260. WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL240 WE RECEIVED A 'TFC, TFC' ALERT FROM TCASII. ATL TOLD US TO RPT LEVEL AT FL260. ATL THEN TOLD US TO GO BACK DOWN TO FL230 IMMEDIATELY. TCASII THEN TURNED RED (RA) WITH A 'CLB, CLB' INSTRUCTION. I DISREGARDED ZTL'S INSTRUCTION TO DSND, TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT, AND INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE CLB. WE CLRED THE CONFLICT AT APPROX FL255. ATC WAS NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING OUR TCASII INSTRUCTIONS, NOT THEIRS. THE CONFLICTING ACFT WAS ACQUIRED VISUALLY BY THE FO AND THE ACFT PASSED TO OUR R AND APPROX 300-400 FT BELOW US. A DIFFERENT CTLR CAME ON THE FREQ ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

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.

CL60 flight crew with ZTL experienced a loss of separation and a TCASII RA at FL240 during WX deviation operations.