Traffic conflict during arrival near iad.

Attributes
ACN	656493
Time
Date	200412
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl single value : 21500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Embraer Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	656493
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was the PF on flight from orf to iad. Captain was off on radio #2 calling operations for our out times. While he was off, ATC said 'aircraft X, climb to FL220.' I read back 'FL220, aircraft X' and continued to climb. Captain came back and asked if there were any changes. I said, 'yes, we are now cleared up to FL220.' shortly after that, we were handed off to ZDC. Captain checked in, 'aircraft X climbing to FL220.' ATC replied, 'roger.' shortly after, ATC asked 'aircraft X say your altitude.' captain stated 'FL215 climbing to FL220.' we were then told to turn left to 270 degrees and descend to FL200, that we had traffic ahead less than 1 mi, 500 ft below us. Captain stated, 'confirm aircraft X turn left to 270 degrees and descend to FL200.' we had received a TA on our TCASII at this time. Center replied, and then we were shortly later handed off to potomac approach and nothing else was said.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TFC CONFLICT DURING ARR NEAR IAD.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF ON FLT FROM ORF TO IAD. CAPT WAS OFF ON RADIO #2 CALLING OPS FOR OUR OUT TIMES. WHILE HE WAS OFF, ATC SAID 'ACFT X, CLB TO FL220.' I READ BACK 'FL220, ACFT X' AND CONTINUED TO CLB. CAPT CAME BACK AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES. I SAID, 'YES, WE ARE NOW CLRED UP TO FL220.' SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO ZDC. CAPT CHKED IN, 'ACFT X CLBING TO FL220.' ATC REPLIED, 'ROGER.' SHORTLY AFTER, ATC ASKED 'ACFT X SAY YOUR ALT.' CAPT STATED 'FL215 CLBING TO FL220.' WE WERE THEN TOLD TO TURN L TO 270 DEGS AND DSND TO FL200, THAT WE HAD TFC AHEAD LESS THAN 1 MI, 500 FT BELOW US. CAPT STATED, 'CONFIRM ACFT X TURN L TO 270 DEGS AND DSND TO FL200.' WE HAD RECEIVED A TA ON OUR TCASII AT THIS TIME. CTR REPLIED, AND THEN WE WERE SHORTLY LATER HANDED OFF TO POTOMAC APCH AND NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID.

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.