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ATR72 flight crew initiates evasive TCASII action to avoid a VFR C172 holding at lit VORTAC. The controller previously issued TA holding at VOR.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 428386 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199902 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : lit.vortac |
| State Reference | AR |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4200 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : lit.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | ATR 72 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : lit.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : holding |
| Route In Use | arrival : holding pattern |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 13600 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 428386 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 3000 vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
Approach control cleared us (aircraft X) to 5000 ft and radar vectors direct to lit VOR and then heading 040 degrees. Shortly thereafter, approach cleared us to 4000 ft, heading 060 degrees. Approach control issued us a TA: C172 (aircraft Y) holding over the VOR at 4500 ft. We did not see the C172. As I was descending through 4500 ft, the TCASII went off. My first officer started calling out traffic's altitude and direction. I quickly descended to 4000 ft and turned left slightly. My first officer spotted the traffic at our 1 O'clock position. We were on converging courses, opposite 180 degree courses. Totally unsafe situation. I called approach control and advised them that we were too close for comfort. C172 pilot did the same. I called the tower supervisor once parked at the gate. He was going to investigate.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ATR72 FLC INITIATES EVASIVE TCASII ACTION TO AVOID A VFR C172 HOLDING AT LIT VORTAC. THE CTLR PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TA HOLDING AT VOR.
Narrative: APCH CTL CLRED US (ACFT X) TO 5000 FT AND RADAR VECTORS DIRECT TO LIT VOR AND THEN HDG 040 DEGS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, APCH CLRED US TO 4000 FT, HDG 060 DEGS. APCH CTL ISSUED US A TA: C172 (ACFT Y) HOLDING OVER THE VOR AT 4500 FT. WE DID NOT SEE THE C172. AS I WAS DSNDING THROUGH 4500 FT, THE TCASII WENT OFF. MY FO STARTED CALLING OUT TFC'S ALT AND DIRECTION. I QUICKLY DSNDED TO 4000 FT AND TURNED L SLIGHTLY. MY FO SPOTTED THE TFC AT OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS. WE WERE ON CONVERGING COURSES, OPPOSITE 180 DEG COURSES. TOTALLY UNSAFE SIT. I CALLED APCH CTL AND ADVISED THEM THAT WE WERE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. C172 PLT DID THE SAME. I CALLED THE TWR SUPVR ONCE PARKED AT THE GATE. HE WAS GOING TO INVESTIGATE.
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.