Narrative:

We departed psp. WX was clear with unlimited visibility. I was flying the aircraft; and we were cleared to FL230 by ZLA. As I was smoothly leveling off at FL230; ATC issued climb clearance to FL270. I once again smoothly started my climb only to receive a TA. I looked at the TCAS; and saw traffic at +900 ft just 2.0 NM at the 11:30 O'clock position. I looked up and saw a B737 rapidly approaching us in my window. At that time; I received an RA to reduce climb. I smoothly leveled the aircraft; and the B737 passed just 600-700 ft overhead. We immediately advised ATC of the RA; and informed him that we would be filing a report. He responded that the traffic was at FL240; and was behind us and that it was no factor. I then jumped on the radio and told the controller that he had just cleared us to FL270 through the B737's altitude of FL240. I did not remember what his response to that was. At the time of this near miss; I was hand flying the aircraft; and had it been on autoplt; I believe we probably would have had a collision with the B737. The autoplt climb would have been faster; and since I had my hand on the yoke; it enabled me to respond much faster. Also; had it not been for the TCAS; there is a good chance that we would have not seen the B737 until it was too late. The traffic was coming at an angle and I could not see him due to the window frame obstructing my view. When the controller handed us off; he said sorry for the confusion. I do not think he realizes how close it could have been.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CLBING OUT OF FL230 FOR FL270 EXPERIENCED CONFLICT WITH B737 OPPOSITE DIRECTION LEVEL AT FL240.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED PSP. WX WAS CLR WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. I WAS FLYING THE ACFT; AND WE WERE CLRED TO FL230 BY ZLA. AS I WAS SMOOTHLY LEVELING OFF AT FL230; ATC ISSUED CLB CLRNC TO FL270. I ONCE AGAIN SMOOTHLY STARTED MY CLB ONLY TO RECEIVE A TA. I LOOKED AT THE TCAS; AND SAW TFC AT +900 FT JUST 2.0 NM AT THE 11:30 O'CLOCK POS. I LOOKED UP AND SAW A B737 RAPIDLY APCHING US IN MY WINDOW. AT THAT TIME; I RECEIVED AN RA TO REDUCE CLB. I SMOOTHLY LEVELED THE ACFT; AND THE B737 PASSED JUST 600-700 FT OVERHEAD. WE IMMEDIATELY ADVISED ATC OF THE RA; AND INFORMED HIM THAT WE WOULD BE FILING A RPT. HE RESPONDED THAT THE TFC WAS AT FL240; AND WAS BEHIND US AND THAT IT WAS NO FACTOR. I THEN JUMPED ON THE RADIO AND TOLD THE CTLR THAT HE HAD JUST CLRED US TO FL270 THROUGH THE B737'S ALT OF FL240. I DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT HIS RESPONSE TO THAT WAS. AT THE TIME OF THIS NEAR MISS; I WAS HAND FLYING THE ACFT; AND HAD IT BEEN ON AUTOPLT; I BELIEVE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A COLLISION WITH THE B737. THE AUTOPLT CLB WOULD HAVE BEEN FASTER; AND SINCE I HAD MY HAND ON THE YOKE; IT ENABLED ME TO RESPOND MUCH FASTER. ALSO; HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE TCAS; THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE WOULD HAVE NOT SEEN THE B737 UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THE TFC WAS COMING AT AN ANGLE AND I COULD NOT SEE HIM DUE TO THE WINDOW FRAME OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. WHEN THE CTLR HANDED US OFF; HE SAID SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION. I DO NOT THINK HE REALIZES HOW CLOSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.