An air carrier mdt stopped its IFR climb to avoid a 'pop-up' VFR small aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	226091
Time
Date	199211
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bqk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	226091
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were climbing to 6000 ft en route from bqk to jax. Since the flight was relatively short, I had been monitoring ATIS. My first officer was monitoring ATC. After finishing copying the ATIS, I returned to the ATC frequency and my normal pattern of scanning for other traffic. I very quickly discovered an small aircraft at our 12 O'clock position and 3 to 4 mi ahead. I glanced down at TCASII, which showed the traffic level at 6000 ft, same direction, which subsequently issued a TA. I asked my first officer if ATC had issued the traffic, and he said no, and continued to climb. I immediately leveled the aircraft at 5500 and queried ATC of the traffic. The controller said the traffic had just popped up on her screen, and issued a 30 degree right turn to avoid the traffic. At that time, I told ATC that we had the traffic in sight, and could maintain a visual separation at 5500 ft until we cleared the traffic. The controller agreed and we passed the traffic to the east at 5500 ft, until we cleared and had separation, then continued our climb to 6000 ft. The flight continued uneventfully and landed at jax. I then had a 'talk' with my first officer and made sure that he understood that just because we were on an IFR flight plan, it is still our responsibility to see and avoid traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MDT STOPPED ITS IFR CLB TO AVOID A 'POP-UP' VFR SMA.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING TO 6000 FT ENRTE FROM BQK TO JAX. SINCE THE FLT WAS RELATIVELY SHORT, I HAD BEEN MONITORING ATIS. MY FO WAS MONITORING ATC. AFTER FINISHING COPYING THE ATIS, I RETURNED TO THE ATC FREQ AND MY NORMAL PATTERN OF SCANNING FOR OTHER TFC. I VERY QUICKLY DISCOVERED AN SMA AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 3 TO 4 MI AHEAD. I GLANCED DOWN AT TCASII, WHICH SHOWED THE TFC LEVEL AT 6000 FT, SAME DIRECTION, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED A TA. I ASKED MY FO IF ATC HAD ISSUED THE TFC, AND HE SAID NO, AND CONTINUED TO CLB. I IMMEDIATELY LEVELED THE ACFT AT 5500 AND QUERIED ATC OF THE TFC. THE CTLR SAID THE TFC HAD JUST POPPED UP ON HER SCREEN, AND ISSUED A 30 DEG R TURN TO AVOID THE TFC. AT THAT TIME, I TOLD ATC THAT WE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT, AND COULD MAINTAIN A VISUAL SEPARATION AT 5500 FT UNTIL WE CLRED THE TFC. THE CTLR AGREED AND WE PASSED THE TFC TO THE E AT 5500 FT, UNTIL WE CLRED AND HAD SEPARATION, THEN CONTINUED OUR CLB TO 6000 FT. THE FLT CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY AND LANDED AT JAX. I THEN HAD A 'TALK' WITH MY FO AND MADE SURE THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, IT IS STILL OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE AND AVOID TFC.

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.