Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Training / Qualification; Workload
Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
After a 2 hour 45 minute delay and a 40 minute taxi out we finally departed Runway 13 in LGA. I was the pilot flying the TNNIS RNAV departure. It was a bit bumpy and I was hand flying the departure. We were told to level off at 5;000 FT. As I passed through 4;000 FT I pulled the power back to stay within the speed limits and was leveling off at 5;000 FT when we got a heading to turn to from ATC. At the same time as I started the turn we got a; 'Monitor Vertical Speed' as I leveled off and ATC mentioned something about traffic. I was at 5;000 FT and glanced at the target on the TCAS and I thought I saw it at 500 FT below and climbing. I looked at the HSI saw red above and for some reason (thinking the traffic was climbing) I started to relax the pressure on the yoke and started a slow climb. I eased up to approximately 5;100 FT and I realized my mistake and started back down as the aircraft told me to descend. I leveled off at 5;000 FT and was clear of the event. The other aircraft was a GA aircraft out sight seeing. Remember; don't climb or descend into a red zone on a traffic alert even if you think you see something else. Trust the system. I would have been fine if I had just leveled off.
An air carrier Captain reported after departing LGA Runway 13 and while leveling at 5;000 FT he received a TCAS RA DESCEND but mistakenly climbed into the traffic opposite the TCAS command.