ATC tries to convince corporate pilot to disregard a TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	447509
Time
Date	199908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Challenger CL601
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 8300 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	447509
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 1800
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On visual/radar vectors to las, we were established level at 6000 ft, numerous TCASII targets were observed below us, but not idented. One of the targets at 500 ft below was seen to be climbing by the TCASII and issued an RA at approximately 3 mi and 400 ft below climbing. Looked for traffic, but was not seen and RA complied with. Immediately advised ATC that we had climbed to comply with an RA, traffic not seen. We climbed between 200-300 ft when informed to return to 6000 ft immediately, traffic was no factor. Refused as RA was still commanding climb with no visual contact. Had to repeat 2 times to controller about the RA. He finally consented saying finally that there was a lot of traffic coming out of the las vegas area at 5500 ft. Total altitude deviation never exceeded approximately 300 ft. It seems contradictory for a controller to tell a pilot to disregard an RA with unseen (unpointed out traffic) and return to assigned altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC TRIES TO CONVINCE CORPORATE PLT TO DISREGARD A TCASII RA.

Narrative: ON VISUAL/RADAR VECTORS TO LAS, WE WERE ESTABLISHED LEVEL AT 6000 FT, NUMEROUS TCASII TARGETS WERE OBSERVED BELOW US, BUT NOT IDENTED. ONE OF THE TARGETS AT 500 FT BELOW WAS SEEN TO BE CLBING BY THE TCASII AND ISSUED AN RA AT APPROX 3 MI AND 400 FT BELOW CLBING. LOOKED FOR TFC, BUT WAS NOT SEEN AND RA COMPLIED WITH. IMMEDIATELY ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD CLBED TO COMPLY WITH AN RA, TFC NOT SEEN. WE CLBED BTWN 200-300 FT WHEN INFORMED TO RETURN TO 6000 FT IMMEDIATELY, TFC WAS NO FACTOR. REFUSED AS RA WAS STILL COMMANDING CLB WITH NO VISUAL CONTACT. HAD TO REPEAT 2 TIMES TO CTLR ABOUT THE RA. HE FINALLY CONSENTED SAYING FINALLY THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF TFC COMING OUT OF THE LAS VEGAS AREA AT 5500 FT. TOTAL ALTDEV NEVER EXCEEDED APPROX 300 FT. IT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY FOR A CTLR TO TELL A PLT TO DISREGARD AN RA WITH UNSEEN (UNPOINTED OUT TFC) AND RETURN TO ASSIGNED ALT.

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.