Dfw TCASII RA first gives descent then quickly changes to climb resolution on descent into dfw.

Attributes
ACN	439928
Time
Date	199906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : howdy
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : cedar creek 4
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc tracon : a11.tracon
Make Model Name	Gates Learjet Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	439928
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	439929
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical conflict : nmac other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Dfw arrival at 17000 ft. ATC facility: ZFW. Location: about 25 mi east of howdy intersection. On descent through 17000 ft on cedar creek 4 arrival to dfw on cedar creek arrival, we got a TA of a learjet that had a visual on us and he would maintain separation. We called looking. I saw an aircraft at 9 O'clock. It was night. TCASII gave us a descend RA and then almost a second later a climb RA. We showed the traffic 200 ft below. In the climb I picked him up visually on right, 5 O'clock. I also saw another aircraft to our left. This incident was almost a very big mess. I suggest the FAA not allow night visual separation. I believe the lear was looking at another aircraft and never saw us or he is a cowboy getting way too close to a commercial jet. I believe the TCASII came very close to causing a disaster when it gave the descent prior to the climb. If we had reacted slightly faster, there would have been a midair. Another pilot in coach described to us how close it was. He said the aircraft did not move in the window until just before it cleared below the tail.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DFW TCASII RA FIRST GIVES DSCNT THEN QUICKLY CHANGES TO CLB RESOLUTION ON DSCNT INTO DFW.

Narrative: DFW ARR AT 17000 FT. ATC FACILITY: ZFW. LOCATION: ABOUT 25 MI E OF HOWDY INTXN. ON DSCNT THROUGH 17000 FT ON CEDAR CREEK 4 ARR TO DFW ON CEDAR CREEK ARR, WE GOT A TA OF A LEARJET THAT HAD A VISUAL ON US AND HE WOULD MAINTAIN SEPARATION. WE CALLED LOOKING. I SAW AN ACFT AT 9 O'CLOCK. IT WAS NIGHT. TCASII GAVE US A DSND RA AND THEN ALMOST A SECOND LATER A CLB RA. WE SHOWED THE TFC 200 FT BELOW. IN THE CLB I PICKED HIM UP VISUALLY ON R, 5 O'CLOCK. I ALSO SAW ANOTHER ACFT TO OUR L. THIS INCIDENT WAS ALMOST A VERY BIG MESS. I SUGGEST THE FAA NOT ALLOW NIGHT VISUAL SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THE LEAR WAS LOOKING AT ANOTHER ACFT AND NEVER SAW US OR HE IS A COWBOY GETTING WAY TOO CLOSE TO A COMMERCIAL JET. I BELIEVE THE TCASII CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A DISASTER WHEN IT GAVE THE DSCNT PRIOR TO THE CLB. IF WE HAD REACTED SLIGHTLY FASTER, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MIDAIR. ANOTHER PLT IN COACH DESCRIBED TO US HOW CLOSE IT WAS. HE SAID THE ACFT DID NOT MOVE IN THE WINDOW UNTIL JUST BEFORE IT CLRED BELOW THE TAIL.

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.