37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 442056 |
Time | |
Date | 199907 |
Day | Fri |
Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | navaid : sea.vortac |
State Reference | WA |
Altitude | msl bound lower : 12100 msl bound upper : 12700 |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse.artcc |
Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
Navigation In Use | other vortac |
Flight Phase | climbout : vacating altitude |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Aircraft 2 | |
Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse.artcc |
Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
Flight Phase | cruise : level |
Person 1 | |
Affiliation | company : air carrier |
Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
Qualification | pilot : atp |
ASRS Report | 442056 |
Person 2 | |
Affiliation | company : air carrier |
Function | flight crew : first officer |
Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine |
Events | |
Anomaly | conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation |
Independent Detector | aircraft equipment : tcas |
Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
Miss Distance | horizontal : 24000 vertical : 400 |
Supplementary | |
Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance FAA |
Primary Problem | FAA |
Narrative:
First officer was flying the aircraft, climbing through 12100 ft MSL with clearance to 15000 ft. We were on top of clouds at about 11500 ft MSL. TCASII suddenly announced 'traffic' 1 time and then went right into 'descend, descend.' TCASII display showed traffic at about 4 mi ahead. The first officer quickly reversed his pitch and followed the command to descend at 1500-2000 FPM, which caused some concern in the cabin. The seatbelt sign was still on, but the flight attendants were just starting to move around for their service. During the RA, ZSE called us clearing us to climb to FL330. I responded that we were unable and were complying with an RA. He then said, oh, that is VFR traffic at 12500 ft eastbound. It was clear above our altitude, but the traffic was not spotted visually. When clear of traffic, we continued the climb to FL330. I wonder why we did not receive an advisory from ZSE on this aircraft if he had a transponder on, enabling the TCASII alert. We deviated about -600 ft before the clear of conflict message was played.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 CREW HAD TCASII RA.
Narrative: FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT, CLBING THROUGH 12100 FT MSL WITH CLRNC TO 15000 FT. WE WERE ON TOP OF CLOUDS AT ABOUT 11500 FT MSL. TCASII SUDDENLY ANNOUNCED 'TFC' 1 TIME AND THEN WENT RIGHT INTO 'DSND, DSND.' TCASII DISPLAY SHOWED TFC AT ABOUT 4 MI AHEAD. THE FO QUICKLY REVERSED HIS PITCH AND FOLLOWED THE COMMAND TO DSND AT 1500-2000 FPM, WHICH CAUSED SOME CONCERN IN THE CABIN. THE SEATBELT SIGN WAS STILL ON, BUT THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE JUST STARTING TO MOVE AROUND FOR THEIR SVC. DURING THE RA, ZSE CALLED US CLRING US TO CLB TO FL330. I RESPONDED THAT WE WERE UNABLE AND WERE COMPLYING WITH AN RA. HE THEN SAID, OH, THAT IS VFR TFC AT 12500 FT EBOUND. IT WAS CLR ABOVE OUR ALT, BUT THE TFC WAS NOT SPOTTED VISUALLY. WHEN CLR OF TFC, WE CONTINUED THE CLB TO FL330. I WONDER WHY WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN ADVISORY FROM ZSE ON THIS ACFT IF HE HAD A XPONDER ON, ENABLING THE TCASII ALERT. WE DEVIATED ABOUT -600 FT BEFORE THE CLR OF CONFLICT MESSAGE WAS PLAYED.
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.