Altitude deviation altitude excursion in flight crew response to TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	241249
Time
Date	199305
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxt
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27500 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4350 flight time type : 2350
ASRS Report	241249
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	241848
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cruising at FL280 TCASII gave a TA. Target was about 2500 ft above and descending. I queried center who reported the target was descending to level at FL290. TCASII then issued an RA to descend. I advised center of same and that we were descending out of FL280. Center immediately issued a descent clearance to FL260. Target leveled at FL290 and we leveled at FL260. Problem is that all the 'bugs' have not yet been worked out of the TCASII system. If they could find a way to tie the TCASII in with the altitude alert system setting, then perhaps TCASII would know the target will level before point of impact and thereby reduce or eliminate these nuisance advisories.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION IN FLC RESPONSE TO TCASII RA.

Narrative: CRUISING AT FL280 TCASII GAVE A TA. TARGET WAS ABOUT 2500 FT ABOVE AND DSNDING. I QUERIED CTR WHO RPTED THE TARGET WAS DSNDING TO LEVEL AT FL290. TCASII THEN ISSUED AN RA TO DSND. I ADVISED CTR OF SAME AND THAT WE WERE DSNDING OUT OF FL280. CTR IMMEDIATELY ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC TO FL260. TARGET LEVELED AT FL290 AND WE LEVELED AT FL260. PROB IS THAT ALL THE 'BUGS' HAVE NOT YET BEEN WORKED OUT OF THE TCASII SYS. IF THEY COULD FIND A WAY TO TIE THE TCASII IN WITH THE ALT ALERT SYS SETTING, THEN PERHAPS TCASII WOULD KNOW THE TARGET WILL LEVEL BEFORE POINT OF IMPACT AND THEREBY REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THESE NUISANCE ADVISORIES.

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.