Narrative:

Descending on the baret 3 STAR to san, approaching pillo intersection and leaving 12000' for 10000', we received a TCASII TA, and a traffic advisory from ZLA. The traffic was approaching from our 12 O'clock position. This was correlated on our TCASII display, which also displayed his altitude as 10400' and climbing. With no visibility contact, center advised us to level at 11000'. Shortly thereafter, the TCAS escalated to an RA, saying 'climb' at a verified speed of over 2000 FPM, which we did. Having never seen the traffic, I can only estimate the distance of the near miss at 300-400'. Where the TCAS alert ceased we resumed our descent. Just prior to switching frequencys to san approach, we were advised to call ZLA after landing to discuss a 'possible altitude violation,' whereupon the captain explained our deviation was due to a TCAS RA. On the ground at san, we were advised that the call to ZLA was no longer necessary. A contributing factor was the time of day. We were descending to the west and looking for the traffic into the glare of the setting sun. Thank goodness for TCAS!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA CAUSED FLT CREW TO EXCURSION FROM DESCENT AND CLIMB TO ERASE THE RA. POSSIBLE NMAC.

Narrative: DSNDING ON THE BARET 3 STAR TO SAN, APCHING PILLO INTXN AND LEAVING 12000' FOR 10000', WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA, AND A TFC ADVISORY FROM ZLA. THE TFC WAS APCHING FROM OUR 12 O'CLOCK POS. THIS WAS CORRELATED ON OUR TCASII DISPLAY, WHICH ALSO DISPLAYED HIS ALT AS 10400' AND CLBING. WITH NO VIS CONTACT, CENTER ADVISED US TO LEVEL AT 11000'. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TCAS ESCALATED TO AN RA, SAYING 'CLB' AT A VERIFIED SPD OF OVER 2000 FPM, WHICH WE DID. HAVING NEVER SEEN THE TFC, I CAN ONLY ESTIMATE THE DISTANCE OF THE NEAR MISS AT 300-400'. WHERE THE TCAS ALERT CEASED WE RESUMED OUR DSNT. JUST PRIOR TO SWITCHING FREQS TO SAN APCH, WE WERE ADVISED TO CALL ZLA AFTER LNDG TO DISCUSS A 'POSSIBLE ALT VIOLATION,' WHEREUPON THE CAPT EXPLAINED OUR DEVIATION WAS DUE TO A TCAS RA. ON THE GND AT SAN, WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE CALL TO ZLA WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE TIME OF DAY. WE WERE DSNDING TO THE W AND LOOKING FOR THE TFC INTO THE GLARE OF THE SETTING SUN. THANK GOODNESS FOR TCAS!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.