An apparent operational error creates a near midair collision situation.

Attributes
ACN	208972
Time
Date	199204
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hcm airport : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	208972
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Error
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Noticed TCASII screen showed traffic altitude at 9000 ft MSL -- same as ours -- at 3 DME. Picked up traffic visually and initiated hard right turn to avoid it. TCASII did not issue RA. After turn, noticed TCASII was in 'TA only' mode; therefore no RA issued. Traffic was small aircraft under richmond approach control. We were under washington center control, awaiting climb to 15000 for cruise between richmond and norfolk (20 min flight time). Our airline's procedure is to turn TCASII to 'TA only' prior to takeoff. 'TA/RA' selection is on 'after takeoff-climb (after airplane clean up when workload permits) checklist.' a checklist frequently not completed until 10000 ft MSL. I recommend selecting TA/RA before takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN APPARENT OPERROR CREATES A NMAC SITUATION.

Narrative: NOTICED TCASII SCREEN SHOWED TFC ALT AT 9000 FT MSL -- SAME AS OURS -- AT 3 DME. PICKED UP TFC VISUALLY AND INITIATED HARD R TURN TO AVOID IT. TCASII DID NOT ISSUE RA. AFTER TURN, NOTICED TCASII WAS IN 'TA ONLY' MODE; THEREFORE NO RA ISSUED. TFC WAS SMA UNDER RICHMOND APCH CTL. WE WERE UNDER WASHINGTON CTR CTL, AWAITING CLB TO 15000 FOR CRUISE BTWN RICHMOND AND NORFOLK (20 MIN FLT TIME). OUR AIRLINE'S PROC IS TO TURN TCASII TO 'TA ONLY' PRIOR TO TKOF. 'TA/RA' SELECTION IS ON 'AFTER TKOF-CLB (AFTER AIRPLANE CLEAN UP WHEN WORKLOAD PERMITS) CHKLIST.' A CHKLIST FREQUENTLY NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 10000 FT MSL. I RECOMMEND SELECTING TA/RA BEFORE TKOF.

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.