Inadequate TA given.

Attributes
ACN	266298
Time
Date	199402
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sju
State Reference	PR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sju tower : bfi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in approach : visual
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 : 210 flight time total : 13300 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	266298
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During approach to sju ATC asked if we had the 727 in sight 12-1 O'clock, also landing sju. I looked out and saw a 727 at 11 O'clock and didn't question it, and said yes, then began following aircraft to sju. During turn to intercept localizer, TCASII TA made me look up again more closely to see the second 727 off my right. We did a 360 degree turn to left and advised approach control. I did not question the exact position of the aircraft I saw. I just saw a 727 and said traffic in sight. The controller could have mentioned there were 2 727's and not given me a clearance to follow one until I was sure or had both aircraft in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADEQUATE TA GIVEN.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO SJU ATC ASKED IF WE HAD THE 727 IN SIGHT 12-1 O'CLOCK, ALSO LNDG SJU. I LOOKED OUT AND SAW A 727 AT 11 O'CLOCK AND DIDN'T QUESTION IT, AND SAID YES, THEN BEGAN FOLLOWING ACFT TO SJU. DURING TURN TO INTERCEPT LOC, TCASII TA MADE ME LOOK UP AGAIN MORE CLOSELY TO SEE THE SECOND 727 OFF MY R. WE DID A 360 DEG TURN TO L AND ADVISED APCH CTL. I DID NOT QUESTION THE EXACT POS OF THE ACFT I SAW. I JUST SAW A 727 AND SAID TFC IN SIGHT. THE CTLR COULD HAVE MENTIONED THERE WERE 2 727'S AND NOT GIVEN ME A CLRNC TO FOLLOW ONE UNTIL I WAS SURE OR HAD BOTH ACFT IN SIGHT.

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.