MD88 received TCASII RA with an SF340 near pvd.

Attributes
ACN	420857
Time
Date	199811
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd airport : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd tower : sfo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	420857
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On climb out from pvd while level at 8000 ft, we received a TA from ATC. We saw the saab 340 at 10000 ft and reported traffic in sight. ATC then gave us a climb clearance to 10000 ft to visually remain clear of traffic. The traffic was given a descent to 9000 ft. We began a climb but quickly realized the traffic was on a direct intercept course with our aircraft. I shallowed out the climb but soon received a TA followed by an RA to descend from our TCASII. I followed the TCASII instructions and descended back to 8000 ft. While taking this action, the aircraft accelerated to 280 KIAS, which I immediately corrected back to 250 KTS. We instructed ATC that we had descended back to 8000 ft. ATC said 'fine' and to climb to 10000 ft when able. Traffic cleared and we proceeded to climb and the rest of trip was normal. I believe that VFR climbs at night to clear traffic is not a good idea because angles of intercept with your aircraft are much harder to judge. Relative velocity is also hard to judge. My faith in TCASII grows with every incident like this. TCASII is a great system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 RECEIVED TCASII RA WITH AN SF340 NEAR PVD.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM PVD WHILE LEVEL AT 8000 FT, WE RECEIVED A TA FROM ATC. WE SAW THE SAAB 340 AT 10000 FT AND RPTED TFC IN SIGHT. ATC THEN GAVE US A CLB CLRNC TO 10000 FT TO VISUALLY REMAIN CLR OF TFC. THE TFC WAS GIVEN A DSCNT TO 9000 FT. WE BEGAN A CLB BUT QUICKLY REALIZED THE TFC WAS ON A DIRECT INTERCEPT COURSE WITH OUR ACFT. I SHALLOWED OUT THE CLB BUT SOON RECEIVED A TA FOLLOWED BY AN RA TO DSND FROM OUR TCASII. I FOLLOWED THE TCASII INSTRUCTIONS AND DSNDED BACK TO 8000 FT. WHILE TAKING THIS ACTION, THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO 280 KIAS, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BACK TO 250 KTS. WE INSTRUCTED ATC THAT WE HAD DSNDED BACK TO 8000 FT. ATC SAID 'FINE' AND TO CLB TO 10000 FT WHEN ABLE. TFC CLRED AND WE PROCEEDED TO CLB AND THE REST OF TRIP WAS NORMAL. I BELIEVE THAT VFR CLBS AT NIGHT TO CLR TFC IS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE ANGLES OF INTERCEPT WITH YOUR ACFT ARE MUCH HARDER TO JUDGE. RELATIVE VELOCITY IS ALSO HARD TO JUDGE. MY FAITH IN TCASII GROWS WITH EVERY INCIDENT LIKE THIS. TCASII IS A GREAT SYS.

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.