Air carrier cleared for descent has TCASII TA then RA. Climbs as directed.

Attributes
ACN	216986
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : oak
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13350 flight time type : 4200
ASRS Report	216986
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	216991
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance 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 : 2500 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Bay cleared us to intercept the sjc 122 degree radial and descend to 8000 ft. They then issued known VFR traffic opposite direction at 9500 ft and amended our descent clearance to 10000 ft. We received a TCASII TA followed by an RA commanded 'climb' at approximately 10300 ft descending. We complied, climbed to 10500 ft, sighted the traffic and returned to 10000 ft. I believe the VFR traffic was higher than the stated 9500 ft. We judged approximately 9800 ft. No ATC action. Supplemental information from acn 216991: we were given a 'clear of conflict' command by TCASII. We saw the traffic pass off our right wing 1/2 mi away. We then advised sjc of the warning and 500 ft altitude deviation. I really think TCASII is a great tool and life saver!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CLRED FOR DSCNT HAS TCASII TA THEN RA. CLBS AS DIRECTED.

Narrative: BAY CLRED US TO INTERCEPT THE SJC 122 DEG RADIAL AND DSND TO 8000 FT. THEY THEN ISSUED KNOWN VFR TFC OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT 9500 FT AND AMENDED OUR DSCNT CLRNC TO 10000 FT. WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA FOLLOWED BY AN RA COMMANDED 'CLB' AT APPROX 10300 FT DSNDING. WE COMPLIED, CLBED TO 10500 FT, SIGHTED THE TFC AND RETURNED TO 10000 FT. I BELIEVE THE VFR TFC WAS HIGHER THAN THE STATED 9500 FT. WE JUDGED APPROX 9800 FT. NO ATC ACTION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 216991: WE WERE GIVEN A 'CLR OF CONFLICT' COMMAND BY TCASII. WE SAW THE TFC PASS OFF OUR R WING 1/2 MI AWAY. WE THEN ADVISED SJC OF THE WARNING AND 500 FT ALTDEV. I REALLY THINK TCASII IS A GREAT TOOL AND LIFE SAVER!

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.