Narrative:

We were descended to 3000 ft shortly after passing the sax VOR. It was a VFR, sunday afternoon. There were many (5 or 6) TCASII targets ahead of and below us on the 10 mi scale. An aircraft triggered a TA on the TCASII at our 10:30 O'clock position and at approximately the same altitude. I visually picked up the approaching aircraft at about 2 mi. We were on a conflicting course. I waited as long as safety would permit, then started an abrupt climb to about 3500 ft to avoid the aircraft. 1 second later the TCASII issued a RA. I advised TRACON of the climb. The aircraft passed below us by approximately 300-400 ft. After it was clear we descended immediately back to 3000 ft and advised TRACON of that. My only comment is: descending air carrier aircraft to 3000 ft in this area, may not be in the best interest of safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC. RPTR FLC FOLLOWED RA AND CLBED ABOVE INTRUDER ACFT. TRACON WAS ADVISED OF DEV. TFC PROBABLY VFR WITH XPONDER.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDED TO 3000 FT SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE SAX VOR. IT WAS A VFR, SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WERE MANY (5 OR 6) TCASII TARGETS AHEAD OF AND BELOW US ON THE 10 MI SCALE. AN ACFT TRIGGERED A TA ON THE TCASII AT OUR 10:30 O'CLOCK POS AND AT APPROX THE SAME ALT. I VISUALLY PICKED UP THE APCHING ACFT AT ABOUT 2 MI. WE WERE ON A CONFLICTING COURSE. I WAITED AS LONG AS SAFETY WOULD PERMIT, THEN STARTED AN ABRUPT CLB TO ABOUT 3500 FT TO AVOID THE ACFT. 1 SECOND LATER THE TCASII ISSUED A RA. I ADVISED TRACON OF THE CLB. THE ACFT PASSED BELOW US BY APPROX 300-400 FT. AFTER IT WAS CLR WE DSNDED IMMEDIATELY BACK TO 3000 FT AND ADVISED TRACON OF THAT. MY ONLY COMMENT IS: DSNDING ACR ACFT TO 3000 FT IN THIS AREA, MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF SAFETY.

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.