Narrative:

During descent into phx we were told to turn to a heading of 160 degrees (for vector for visual approach phx) and descend to 8000 ft. We had plenty of time so we were in a slow descent (approximately 800 FPM); at about 1000 ft we had the first alert on TCASII, (traffic!) and I looked at the screen for position and then outside for traffic (no joy). At 9300 ft we had the TCASII resolution, 'reduce descent.' at that time I saw an small aircraft pass under us at approximately 8000 ft northbound. Had we increased our rate of descent, with no TCASII in IMC, I wouldn't be here writing this! After landing, I contacted phx TRACON and spoke to FAA controller. He said they were aware of the small aircraft and because of an intermittent transponder, they instructed the small aircraft 'to remain clear of the TCA.' upon further research, it appears that the 030 degree radial/19 DME 8000 ft is in the TCA! FAA controller said his tapes were 'sketchy at best' concerning the small aircraft track because of the transponder? I would like to see some follow-up on this incident and the small aircraft driver violated! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that he appreciated the callback, however, he had given a copy of this report to the company safety officer, who had been with the FAA ATC to follow up on. He further stated that he learned that the aircraft, in VFR conditions, was on the very edge of the TCA and probably climbing northbound VFR. He really believes in the TCASII equipment helping to reduce nmacs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR MLG ACFT RESPONDING TO A TCASII ALERT OBSERVED TFC THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS CONFLICT IF THEY WERE DSNDING AT THE NORMAL DSCNT RATE INSTEAD OF A SLOWER RATE.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT INTO PHX WE WERE TOLD TO TURN TO A HDG OF 160 DEGS (FOR VECTOR FOR VISUAL APCH PHX) AND DSND TO 8000 FT. WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME SO WE WERE IN A SLOW DSCNT (APPROX 800 FPM); AT ABOUT 1000 FT WE HAD THE FIRST ALERT ON TCASII, (TFC!) AND I LOOKED AT THE SCREEN FOR POS AND THEN OUTSIDE FOR TFC (NO JOY). AT 9300 FT WE HAD THE TCASII RESOLUTION, 'REDUCE DSCNT.' AT THAT TIME I SAW AN SMA PASS UNDER US AT APPROX 8000 FT NBOUND. HAD WE INCREASED OUR RATE OF DSCNT, WITH NO TCASII IN IMC, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING THIS! AFTER LNDG, I CONTACTED PHX TRACON AND SPOKE TO FAA CTLR. HE SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SMA AND BECAUSE OF AN INTERMITTENT XPONDER, THEY INSTRUCTED THE SMA 'TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA.' UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THE 030 DEG RADIAL/19 DME 8000 FT IS IN THE TCA! FAA CTLR SAID HIS TAPES WERE 'SKETCHY AT BEST' CONCERNING THE SMA TRACK BECAUSE OF THE XPONDER? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW-UP ON THIS INCIDENT AND THE SMA DRIVER VIOLATED! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE APPRECIATED THE CALLBACK, HOWEVER, HE HAD GIVEN A COPY OF THIS RPT TO THE COMPANY SAFETY OFFICER, WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE FAA ATC TO FOLLOW UP ON. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE LEARNED THAT THE ACFT, IN VFR CONDITIONS, WAS ON THE VERY EDGE OF THE TCA AND PROBABLY CLBING NBOUND VFR. HE REALLY BELIEVES IN THE TCASII EQUIP HELPING TO REDUCE NMACS.

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.