Near midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	314090
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cyn airport : phl
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : phl
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 13700 flight time type : 5500
ASRS Report	314090
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While awaiting handoff to ZNY, phl departure calls traffic at 8500 ft, VFR, citation jet. We were instructed to climb to 10000 ft. We acquired a target at 10-11 O'clock, though it did not look as it would be a threat. The traffic in question was at 12 O'clock. Departure assured us we would top our traffic and it should be no factor. Shortly we displayed a TA from TCASII, followed by an RA. Our jumpseater spots the target. I now see only the aircraft's anti-collision light. The TCASII is indicating 100 ft separation and the ivsi is directing a 1700 FPM descent. I immediately disconnected the autoplt, fly into the green arc until clear of conflict. We had visual on the wrong target and did not see the traffic in question. The lesson learned is to follow your TCASII instructions because you may not have positive identify on the correct target. I feel ATC should have given us a turn off course as they could see the situation developing. Also, never assume you will out-perform the other guy. This event should not have progressed to this level, though fortunately TCASII proved to be our life saving hardware this evening.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC.

Narrative: WHILE AWAITING HDOF TO ZNY, PHL DEP CALLS TFC AT 8500 FT, VFR, CITATION JET. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 10000 FT. WE ACQUIRED A TARGET AT 10-11 O'CLOCK, THOUGH IT DID NOT LOOK AS IT WOULD BE A THREAT. THE TFC IN QUESTION WAS AT 12 O'CLOCK. DEP ASSURED US WE WOULD TOP OUR TFC AND IT SHOULD BE NO FACTOR. SHORTLY WE DISPLAYED A TA FROM TCASII, FOLLOWED BY AN RA. OUR JUMPSEATER SPOTS THE TARGET. I NOW SEE ONLY THE ACFT'S ANTI-COLLISION LIGHT. THE TCASII IS INDICATING 100 FT SEPARATION AND THE IVSI IS DIRECTING A 1700 FPM DSCNT. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT, FLY INTO THE GREEN ARC UNTIL CLR OF CONFLICT. WE HAD VISUAL ON THE WRONG TARGET AND DID NOT SEE THE TFC IN QUESTION. THE LESSON LEARNED IS TO FOLLOW YOUR TCASII INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT HAVE POSITIVE IDENT ON THE CORRECT TARGET. I FEEL ATC SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A TURN OFF COURSE AS THEY COULD SEE THE SIT DEVELOPING. ALSO, NEVER ASSUME YOU WILL OUT-PERFORM THE OTHER GUY. THIS EVENT SHOULD NOT HAVE PROGRESSED TO THIS LEVEL, THOUGH FORTUNATELY TCASII PROVED TO BE OUR LIFE SAVING HARDWARE THIS EVENING.

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.