Narrative:

We were on downwind at 4000 ft MSL to san antonio (sat) runway 3. Sat approach pointed out air carrier B-737 traffic at about 2-3 O'clock. We said we had air carrier in sight and approach said, 'follow air carrier cleared visual runway 3, maintain at or above 3500 ft until north of kelly air force base.' we were well behind the air carrier (5-6 mi), so I turned about 120 degree right to intercept extended runway 3 centerline. In about 1 min approach asked if we had our traffic at 11 O'clock, and sure enough, there was an air force B-737 (T-43) at 3500 ft (level with us) and closing. I disconnected the autoplt and autothrottles, began an immediate descent and turned left to get behind the air force B-737. TCASII gave us a RA to climb, but we were already descending and below the air force B-737, so I continued the descent. We had air force in sight throughout the maneuver. S-turns were required on final to get adequate spacing behind air force. The air force 737 was apparently doing practice approachs and did a go around. We landed uneventfully about 5 mi behind the air carrier B737. We estimate we closed to about 1/4 of a mi with the air force B-737. I wish to emphasize we called the air carrier b- 737 in sight, we followed him as cleared, and did not see the air force B-737 until approach control pointed it out as we were converging.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC RECEIVED A TCASII RA WHILE ON FINAL APCH. ACR AVOIDED TFC BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO TCASII COMMAND TO CLB.

Narrative: WE WERE ON DOWNWIND AT 4000 FT MSL TO SAN ANTONIO (SAT) RWY 3. SAT APCH POINTED OUT ACR B-737 TFC AT ABOUT 2-3 O'CLOCK. WE SAID WE HAD ACR IN SIGHT AND APCH SAID, 'FOLLOW ACR CLRED VISUAL RWY 3, MAINTAIN AT OR ABOVE 3500 FT UNTIL N OF KELLY AIR FORCE BASE.' WE WERE WELL BEHIND THE ACR (5-6 MI), SO I TURNED ABOUT 120 DEG R TO INTERCEPT EXTENDED RWY 3 CTRLINE. IN ABOUT 1 MIN APCH ASKED IF WE HAD OUR TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK, AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS AN AIR FORCE B-737 (T-43) AT 3500 FT (LEVEL WITH US) AND CLOSING. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLES, BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT AND TURNED L TO GET BEHIND THE AIR FORCE B-737. TCASII GAVE US A RA TO CLB, BUT WE WERE ALREADY DSNDING AND BELOW THE AIR FORCE B-737, SO I CONTINUED THE DSCNT. WE HAD AIR FORCE IN SIGHT THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER. S-TURNS WERE REQUIRED ON FINAL TO GET ADEQUATE SPACING BEHIND AIR FORCE. THE AIR FORCE 737 WAS APPARENTLY DOING PRACTICE APCHS AND DID A GAR. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY ABOUT 5 MI BEHIND THE ACR B737. WE ESTIMATE WE CLOSED TO ABOUT 1/4 OF A MI WITH THE AIR FORCE B-737. I WISH TO EMPHASIZE WE CALLED THE ACR B- 737 IN SIGHT, WE FOLLOWED HIM AS CLRED, AND DID NOT SEE THE AIR FORCE B-737 UNTIL APCH CTL POINTED IT OUT AS WE WERE CONVERGING.

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.