Flight crew of large transport on descent passed commuter 500 ft.

Attributes
ACN	194779
Time
Date	199111
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	194779
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While talking with bos center on frequency 124.85, center reported an small aircraft at our 11 O'clock position at 12500 ft. They told us we could level off at 13000 ft if we wanted until we saw the VFR traffic. We were cleared to 12000. I saw an aircraft as we passed 12700 ft but it was no small aircraft. I called center to reconfirm altitude and type of aircraft as we passed 500 ft under an light transport. I asked for the light transport altitude and he reported 12500 ft. I queried center. Center said we could have leveled at 13000 ft. No evasive action taken, but too close for comfort.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LGT ON DSCNT PASSED COMMUTER 500 FT.

Narrative: WHILE TALKING WITH BOS CENTER ON FREQ 124.85, CENTER RPTED AN SMA AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK POS AT 12500 FT. THEY TOLD US WE COULD LEVEL OFF AT 13000 FT IF WE WANTED UNTIL WE SAW THE VFR TFC. WE WERE CLRED TO 12000. I SAW AN ACFT AS WE PASSED 12700 FT BUT IT WAS NO SMA. I CALLED CENTER TO RECONFIRM ALT AND TYPE OF ACFT AS WE PASSED 500 FT UNDER AN LTT. I ASKED FOR THE LTT ALT AND HE RPTED 12500 FT. I QUERIED CENTER. CENTER SAID WE COULD HAVE LEVELED AT 13000 FT. NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN, BUT TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

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.