Crj-200 flight crew experienced a near mid air collision with a small aircraft while descending for ...

Narrative:

During a visual approach we came less than 100 feet vertically of another aircraft. We received a visual approach clearance to runway 11. Approach controller said to be on the look out for a cessna in the traffic pattern. We received a frequency change to the tower and checked in. We received landing clearance with information on a VFR cessna in right traffic on the downwind. At this point we did not have that traffic in sight yet. But the traffic was displaying on the TCAS display and it appeared on the downwind. We finished the landing configuration and checklists. The tower was communicating with the cessna pilot. The cessna said he had us in sight. The tower instructed him to follow us and continue on the downwind. About 800 feet above ground level we received 'traffic' advisory; with a +01; down arrow displayed. That is when we spotted him. It was very; very close with a right to left crossing directly overhead. I instinctively pushed the nose over to miss the other aircraft. Turning or climbing would of resulted in a hit. After landing; I noticed the offending aircraft way northwest of the airport maneuvering back towards the runway. I did call the tower via phone. They said that aircraft has been all over their airspace tonight and was not sure if an instructor was on board. She also said the aircraft is from a satellite airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-200 flight crew experienced a Near Mid Air Collision with a small aircraft while descending for landing. The other aircraft had been pointed out by the Tower Controller and had been instructed to follow the CRJ.

Narrative: During a visual approach we came less than 100 feet vertically of another aircraft. We received a visual approach clearance to Runway 11. Approach Controller said to be on the look out for a Cessna in the traffic pattern. We received a frequency change to the Tower and checked in. We received landing clearance with information on a VFR Cessna in right traffic on the downwind. At this point we did not have that traffic in sight yet. But the traffic was displaying on the TCAS display and it appeared on the downwind. We finished the landing configuration and checklists. The Tower was communicating with the Cessna pilot. The Cessna said he had us in sight. The Tower instructed him to follow us and continue on the downwind. About 800 feet above ground level we received 'traffic' advisory; with a +01; down arrow displayed. That is when we spotted him. It was very; very close with a right to left crossing directly overhead. I instinctively pushed the nose over to miss the other aircraft. Turning or climbing would of resulted in a hit. After landing; I noticed the offending aircraft way northwest of the airport maneuvering back towards the runway. I did call the Tower via phone. They said that aircraft has been all over their airspace tonight and was not sure if an instructor was on board. She also said the aircraft is from a satellite airport.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1081937
Time
Date	201304
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	CAE.Airport
State Reference	SC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC

Crj-200 flight crew experienced a near mid air collision with a small aircraft while descending for landing. The other aircraft had been pointed out by the tower controller and had been instructed to follow the crj.