TCASII RA in IMC, controller requests no descent but turns aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	225870
Time
Date	199211
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 17800 flight time type : 15800
ASRS Report	225870
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed mco for rsw on a radar vector of 270 degrees. Approximately 5 mi west of the mco VOR, and just leveling at our assigned altitude of 8000 ft, TCASII called out 'traffic.' we saw traffic on our scope that showed plus 1500 ft at 11-12 O'clock, descending. Within 10-15 seconds, we received an RA 'descend' command. We immediately notified ATC we had the RA descend and before we began a descent, ATC told us not to descend, as there was traffic below us. Instead, they requested we turn to 320 degrees (may have been 340 degrees). As we initiated this turn, TCASII announced 'clear of conflict.' I was unable to check the altitude on the scope after I saw plus 1500 ft as I was busy flying, but my copilot told me she read plus 500 ft on the altitude of the TCASII target. We asked orlando what the altitude of this traffic was that passed us, they said 9000 ft. As I stated, we were IMC so it is impossible for me to determine the proximity of the other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA IN IMC, CTLR REQUESTS NO DSCNT BUT TURNS ACFT.

Narrative: DEPARTED MCO FOR RSW ON A RADAR VECTOR OF 270 DEGS. APPROX 5 MI W OF THE MCO VOR, AND JUST LEVELING AT OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000 FT, TCASII CALLED OUT 'TFC.' WE SAW TFC ON OUR SCOPE THAT SHOWED PLUS 1500 FT AT 11-12 O'CLOCK, DSNDING. WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS, WE RECEIVED AN RA 'DSND' COMMAND. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED ATC WE HAD THE RA DSND AND BEFORE WE BEGAN A DSCNT, ATC TOLD US NOT TO DSND, AS THERE WAS TFC BELOW US. INSTEAD, THEY REQUESTED WE TURN TO 320 DEGS (MAY HAVE BEEN 340 DEGS). AS WE INITIATED THIS TURN, TCASII ANNOUNCED 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' I WAS UNABLE TO CHK THE ALT ON THE SCOPE AFTER I SAW PLUS 1500 FT AS I WAS BUSY FLYING, BUT MY COPLT TOLD ME SHE READ PLUS 500 FT ON THE ALT OF THE TCASII TARGET. WE ASKED ORLANDO WHAT THE ALT OF THIS TFC WAS THAT PASSED US, THEY SAID 9000 FT. AS I STATED, WE WERE IMC SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DETERMINE THE PROX OF THE OTHER ACFT.

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.