B727-200 flight crew was issued a climb into opposite direction traffic.

Attributes
ACN	690743
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : jnc.vortac
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1650
ASRS Report	690743
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

I was PF. We were at FL310; cleared direct to rwf. Earlier; we had asked for FL330; and the controller said they had to make some coords. About 10 mins later; we were cleared to FL330. With the autoplt on; I rolled the trim for a climb. As we started to climb; I looked down at the TCAS and saw a plane indicating 900 ft above us. I looked ahead; and saw the navigation lights of a plane coming directly at us. I initiated a descent just as the TCAS gave an audible 'traffic...traffic' alert. We were almost back down to FL310 when the aircraft crossed over us. This whole incident took only 15-20 seconds or so. No RA was issued. I asked ATC if they had the traffic that had crossed overhead. She said 'yes.' we heard another voice on the frequency (I assume the other plane) say 'thanks guys.' once we were clear of the traffic; we were again cleared to FL330.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 FLT CREW WAS ISSUED A CLB INTO OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC.

Narrative: I WAS PF. WE WERE AT FL310; CLRED DIRECT TO RWF. EARLIER; WE HAD ASKED FOR FL330; AND THE CTLR SAID THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME COORDS. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER; WE WERE CLRED TO FL330. WITH THE AUTOPLT ON; I ROLLED THE TRIM FOR A CLB. AS WE STARTED TO CLB; I LOOKED DOWN AT THE TCAS AND SAW A PLANE INDICATING 900 FT ABOVE US. I LOOKED AHEAD; AND SAW THE NAV LIGHTS OF A PLANE COMING DIRECTLY AT US. I INITIATED A DSCNT JUST AS THE TCAS GAVE AN AUDIBLE 'TFC...TFC' ALERT. WE WERE ALMOST BACK DOWN TO FL310 WHEN THE ACFT CROSSED OVER US. THIS WHOLE INCIDENT TOOK ONLY 15-20 SECONDS OR SO. NO RA WAS ISSUED. I ASKED ATC IF THEY HAD THE TFC THAT HAD CROSSED OVERHEAD. SHE SAID 'YES.' WE HEARD ANOTHER VOICE ON THE FREQ (I ASSUME THE OTHER PLANE) SAY 'THANKS GUYS.' ONCE WE WERE CLR OF THE TFC; WE WERE AGAIN CLRED TO FL330.

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.