Air carrier crew responds to TCASII RA and reports near midair collision in phl airspace.

Attributes
ACN	408390
Time
Date	199807
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
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
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	descent other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 360 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 3700
ASRS Report	408390
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 13750 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	408130
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Level at 9000 ft, we noticed a TCASII TA alert. It was 10 O'clock position and 1400 ft above, descending. We assumed it would level. We were in radar contact with phl approach, on vectors. We received an RA, 'descend.' we advised ATC we were responding to an RA and descending. At that point he gave us a descent to 8000 ft. The RA advised 'increase descent.' we pushed over and the target merged on the TCASII at 200 ft above us. Approach had never advised us of the target prior to the RA. When we asked them about it, he said, 'it was outside class B airspace.' we were IFR in a layer of clouds and never saw the target. The controller's attitude was very cavalier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CREW RESPONDS TO TCASII RA AND RPTS NMAC IN PHL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: LEVEL AT 9000 FT, WE NOTICED A TCASII TA ALERT. IT WAS 10 O'CLOCK POS AND 1400 FT ABOVE, DSNDING. WE ASSUMED IT WOULD LEVEL. WE WERE IN RADAR CONTACT WITH PHL APCH, ON VECTORS. WE RECEIVED AN RA, 'DSND.' WE ADVISED ATC WE WERE RESPONDING TO AN RA AND DSNDING. AT THAT POINT HE GAVE US A DSCNT TO 8000 FT. THE RA ADVISED 'INCREASE DSCNT.' WE PUSHED OVER AND THE TARGET MERGED ON THE TCASII AT 200 FT ABOVE US. APCH HAD NEVER ADVISED US OF THE TARGET PRIOR TO THE RA. WHEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT IT, HE SAID, 'IT WAS OUTSIDE CLASS B AIRSPACE.' WE WERE IFR IN A LAYER OF CLOUDS AND NEVER SAW THE TARGET. THE CTLR'S ATTITUDE WAS VERY CAVALIER.

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.