Date: 201604
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: DFW.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B DFW
ATC / advisory: TRACON D10
Second aircraft: B767-300 and 300 ER
Aircraft component: Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
Component problem: Design
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Departure
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Detector: Automation Aircraft TA; Automation Aircraft RA; Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: A B737 was given runway heading and 17;000 off DAL. A B767-300 was on the [ZACHH2] departure procedure off [a nearby airport]. I turned the B737 north and direct BLECO when able. The B737 stopped climbing and then showed a decent of 100 ft. I turned the B767 east and told him to stop his climb because of the B737. The B767 crew told me he was doing 5;000 feet per minute. I thought he was telling me it will take a minute to stop climbing we're climbing quickly. I told the B737 to expedite their climb. The B767 crew asked me about the traffic and I restated to stop his climb. I was too focused on stopping the climb. I got tunnel vision on the fact that the B767 needed to stop climbing that I didn't think about anything else. [This airline company] climbs well and follows directions well and this was one time where the pilot took a little more time than normal to do it and the B767 pilot did his part very quickly. Leaving the B737 on the departure procedure or leaving them on the 310 heading or turning to a west heading would have fixed this a lot earlier.


Second narrative: After takeoff we were following the ZACHH2 RNAV departure route. We had just passed CUZEN when Regional Departure cleared us onto a 90 degree heading; ZERLU when able. At the time of this clearance we were approaching 6;000 feet MSL. As the [pilot not flying] I was entering ZERLU into the FMS when the controller requested us to increase our rate of ascent. I replied that we were already doing 5;000 FPM. As I released the microphone button; we received a TA followed immediately by an RA. I glanced down at the ND/TCAS and saw the target was off our right at the same altitude. I immediately looked out the R2 window and saw a B737 heading directly at us at the same altitude. The RA first commanded 'increase vertical speed' and perhaps three seconds later commanded 'reduce vertical speed'. The [pilot flying] started to follow the TCAS guidance however at our rate of climb the TCAS had a challenge figuring out what to do. The other flight took evasive action; turning steeply to the left to miss us from behind. Had this incident occurred in IMC conditions; there is no doubt that this incident would have resulted in a collision. The swift reaction of the B737 crew should be commended. After landing; I contacted the ATC supervisor and it was determined that the separation was 0.5 mile laterally and 100 feet vertically.The disconcerting aspect of this incident was the lack of timely information from the TCAS. The TCAS did not react until the closure between the aircraft was unacceptably close. Whether it was because of the perpendicular closure rate or that both aircraft were turning towards each other needs to be addressed. The TCAS did little to avert what could have been a disastrous outcome.


Synopsis: D10 TRACON Controller and three pilots involved in an airborne conflict between a B767 departing DFW and a B737 departing DAL reported their actions during the encounter. Reportedly the TCAS commanded an increased climb rate then reversed to a descent.