MD80 and a PA32 had less than legal separation.

Attributes
ACN	421260
Time
Date	199811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orl airport : orl
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : orl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	421260
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2640 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were level at 11000 ft and 250 KTS. ATC called traffic at 11 O'clock, 1 mi. TCASII indicated 700 ft below us. Twin seneca missed command from ATC to turn. Suddenly, we received an RA (climb). We climbed to 11300 ft, leveled. After TCASII RA ceased (ie, clear of conflict command from TCASII), we informed ATC that we left assigned altitude and then returned to 11000 ft assigned altitude. We never made contact with the twin seneca. I believe ATC and/or the seneca were allowed to stray too close to us. Possibly, ATC dropped the ball. I'm not sure. We never got a clear understanding of what our 'actual' proximity was to the other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 AND A PA32 HAD LESS THAN LEGAL SEPARATION.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. ATC CALLED TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK, 1 MI. TCASII INDICATED 700 FT BELOW US. TWIN SENECA MISSED COMMAND FROM ATC TO TURN. SUDDENLY, WE RECEIVED AN RA (CLB). WE CLBED TO 11300 FT, LEVELED. AFTER TCASII RA CEASED (IE, CLR OF CONFLICT COMMAND FROM TCASII), WE INFORMED ATC THAT WE LEFT ASSIGNED ALT AND THEN RETURNED TO 11000 FT ASSIGNED ALT. WE NEVER MADE CONTACT WITH THE TWIN SENECA. I BELIEVE ATC AND/OR THE SENECA WERE ALLOWED TO STRAY TOO CLOSE TO US. POSSIBLY, ATC DROPPED THE BALL. I'M NOT SURE. WE NEVER GOT A CLR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR 'ACTUAL' PROX WAS TO THE OTHER ACFT.

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.