Air carrier pilot described near midair collision at FL360 with ZDC; FAA recorded operational error.

Attributes
ACN	750556
Time
Date	200708
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 170/175 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j149.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	750556
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

As captain of an E170 at FL360 and J149; I was en route. Approximately 20 mi west of geffs on J149; I was ordered by ZDC to turn to heading 270 degrees immediately. There were 2 consecutive calls from ZDC (I believe) both had the same instructions to turn to heading 270 degrees. The first call was partially blocked. The 2 calls were within seconds of each other. As we began our turn to heading 270 degrees; a B737 came within proximity and triggered a TCAS RA 'monitor vertical speed.' as the B737 flew directly under us I noticed on the TCAS that they had only cleared us by 100 ft. On behalf of my aircraft and its crew; no deviations from any far's occurred to the best of my knowledge at this time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT DESCRIBED NMAC AT FL360 WITH ZDC; FAA RECORDED OPERROR.

Narrative: AS CAPT OF AN E170 AT FL360 AND J149; I WAS ENRTE. APPROX 20 MI W OF GEFFS ON J149; I WAS ORDERED BY ZDC TO TURN TO HDG 270 DEGS IMMEDIATELY. THERE WERE 2 CONSECUTIVE CALLS FROM ZDC (I BELIEVE) BOTH HAD THE SAME INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN TO HDG 270 DEGS. THE FIRST CALL WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED. THE 2 CALLS WERE WITHIN SECONDS OF EACH OTHER. AS WE BEGAN OUR TURN TO HDG 270 DEGS; A B737 CAME WITHIN PROX AND TRIGGERED A TCAS RA 'MONITOR VERT SPD.' AS THE B737 FLEW DIRECTLY UNDER US I NOTICED ON THE TCAS THAT THEY HAD ONLY CLRED US BY 100 FT. ON BEHALF OF MY ACFT AND ITS CREW; NO DEVS FROM ANY FAR'S OCCURRED TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AT THIS TIME.

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.