Commuter flight crew responds to TCASII RA to descend then receives reverse RA from second target.

Attributes
ACN	217692
Time
Date	199208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bal
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 7700 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	217692
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Crew responded to TCASII RA to 'descend, descend.' RA intensified as target range decreased. A second target approached from 10 O'clock, 500 ft below aircraft. TCASII commands reversed. A second target became a threat. RA intensified 'climb-climb.' altitude deviation on the descent 6000-5600 ft (400 ft). Washington approach was advised of altitude deviation and TCASII RA. Target #1 passed 200 ft on right side. Target #2 passed simultaneously 200 ft below. TCASII and crew's action averted a very serious situation. Washington approach said 'were you told by baltimore that you could leave 6000 ft?' the captain responded a second time that we had advised that we were responding to an RA and would submit the required reports.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLC RESPONDS TO TCASII RA TO DSND THEN RECEIVES REVERSE RA FROM SECOND TARGET.

Narrative: CREW RESPONDED TO TCASII RA TO 'DSND, DSND.' RA INTENSIFIED AS TARGET RANGE DECREASED. A SECOND TARGET APCHED FROM 10 O'CLOCK, 500 FT BELOW ACFT. TCASII COMMANDS REVERSED. A SECOND TARGET BECAME A THREAT. RA INTENSIFIED 'CLB-CLB.' ALTDEV ON THE DSCNT 6000-5600 FT (400 FT). WASHINGTON APCH WAS ADVISED OF ALTDEV AND TCASII RA. TARGET #1 PASSED 200 FT ON R SIDE. TARGET #2 PASSED SIMULTANEOUSLY 200 FT BELOW. TCASII AND CREW'S ACTION AVERTED A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. WASHINGTON APCH SAID 'WERE YOU TOLD BY BALTIMORE THAT YOU COULD LEAVE 6000 FT?' THE CAPT RESPONDED A SECOND TIME THAT WE HAD ADVISED THAT WE WERE RESPONDING TO AN RA AND WOULD SUBMIT THE REQUIRED RPTS.'

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.