B727 crew vectored into a traffic conflict.

Attributes
ACN	450150
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Merlin Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	450150
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 : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While on radar vectors (right downwind) for landing runway 1 at dca, 2500 ft, heading 190 degrees, 180 KTS, a very busy ATC controller gave us 'turn to 330 degrees.' immediately thereafter, ATC commanded 'immediate climb to 4000 ft, a merlin at 12 O'clock position, thought I had already turned you west.' (note: I assume the merlin had been on a left downwind to final runway 1.) simultaneously we got a TA followed immediately by an RA to 'climb.' first officer was flying and already in right turn. First officer advised 'I have him.' I saw the merlin in a descending right turn approximately 1/2 mi and 500 ft below. At 3800 ft we leveled off as ATC apologized and gave us visual to runway 1 and to contact tower. This is my second TCASII save, both appear to have been 'overloaded' ATC errors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW VECTORED INTO A TFC CONFLICT.

Narrative: WHILE ON RADAR VECTORS (R DOWNWIND) FOR LNDG RWY 1 AT DCA, 2500 FT, HDG 190 DEGS, 180 KTS, A VERY BUSY ATC CTLR GAVE US 'TURN TO 330 DEGS.' IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, ATC COMMANDED 'IMMEDIATE CLB TO 4000 FT, A MERLIN AT 12 O'CLOCK POS, THOUGHT I HAD ALREADY TURNED YOU W.' (NOTE: I ASSUME THE MERLIN HAD BEEN ON A L DOWNWIND TO FINAL RWY 1.) SIMULTANEOUSLY WE GOT A TA FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN RA TO 'CLB.' FO WAS FLYING AND ALREADY IN R TURN. FO ADVISED 'I HAVE HIM.' I SAW THE MERLIN IN A DSNDING R TURN APPROX 1/2 MI AND 500 FT BELOW. AT 3800 FT WE LEVELED OFF AS ATC APOLOGIZED AND GAVE US VISUAL TO RWY 1 AND TO CONTACT TWR. THIS IS MY SECOND TCASII SAVE, BOTH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN 'OVERLOADED' ATC ERRORS.

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.