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ZDC controller reported an aircraft inbound to an uncontrolled airport had converging VFR traffic. The controller issued traffic advisories instead of assigning an altitude or vectors to avoid the traffic. The flight crew responded to a TCAS RA to avoid the traffic. The first officer also reported their account of the event.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1343628 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201603 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZDC.ARTCC |
| State Reference | VA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 12 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC |
Narrative:
Aircraft X was eastbound heading to the airport; which is an uncontrolled field. There was VFR traffic out in front of him that was not in communication with ATC and squawking 1200. I gave aircraft X a discretionary descent to 3;000 feet. I also called the VFR traffic to aircraft X. I called the traffic a second time and the pilot stated that he had the aircraft on his TCAS. I called the traffic again as he got closer to the VFR aircraft. I called the traffic one more time when he was directly over top of the VFR aircraft and only separated by about 400 feet. A few moments after that the pilot told me that he responded to an RA and to take 'evasive action.' he said that he had the airport in sight and wanted to cancel his IFR clearance. I acknowledged him and cleared him from the center frequency. I immediately told my supervisor what had happened.I recommend that the pilot stop his descent above the VFR traffic until he is safely past the aircraft. That is why I gave him a discretionary descent so he could level off at any time.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZDC Controller reported an aircraft inbound to an uncontrolled airport had converging VFR traffic. The Controller issued traffic advisories instead of assigning an altitude or vectors to avoid the traffic. The flight crew responded to a TCAS RA to avoid the traffic. The First Officer also reported their account of the event.
Narrative: Aircraft X was eastbound heading to the airport; which is an uncontrolled field. There was VFR traffic out in front of him that was not in communication with ATC and squawking 1200. I gave Aircraft X a discretionary descent to 3;000 feet. I also called the VFR traffic to Aircraft X. I called the traffic a second time and the pilot stated that he had the aircraft on his TCAS. I called the traffic again as he got closer to the VFR aircraft. I called the traffic one more time when he was directly over top of the VFR aircraft and only separated by about 400 feet. A few moments after that the pilot told me that he responded to an RA and to take 'evasive action.' He said that he had the airport in sight and wanted to cancel his IFR clearance. I acknowledged him and cleared him from the center frequency. I immediately told my supervisor what had happened.I recommend that the pilot stop his descent above the VFR traffic until he is safely past the aircraft. That is why I gave him a discretionary descent so he could level off at any time.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.