<< >> NASA ASRS Report 451820, October 1999

Captain of an MD88 took evasive action to avoid an ATR72 by increasing his climb rate and turning to avoid loss of separation during departure climb.

Attributes
ACN	451820
Time
Date	199910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 72
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13700 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	451820
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on departure, atl departure at 12500 ft, accelerating to 330 KIAS, TCASII activated TA mode target 300 ft below. I saw the ATR hanging in the windscreen (no relative bearing change). I disconnected autoplt, increased climb rate and turned slightly right. As a result, I passed above and to the right of the air carrier Y ATR72 by over 500 ft vertical and estimated 1/4 - 1/2 mi off the side. I do not think a collision would have occurred if I had taken no action, but it was way too close and separation should have been provided. We were rapidly overtaking the ATR from behind. ATC should have told us to maintain 250 KTS and expedite to 14000 ft and no problem would have occurred.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN MD88 TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID AN ATR72 BY INCREASING HIS CLB RATE AND TURNING TO AVOID LOSS OF SEPARATION DURING DEP CLB.

Narrative: WHILE ON DEP, ATL DEP AT 12500 FT, ACCELERATING TO 330 KIAS, TCASII ACTIVATED TA MODE TARGET 300 FT BELOW. I SAW THE ATR HANGING IN THE WINDSCREEN (NO RELATIVE BEARING CHANGE). I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT, INCREASED CLB RATE AND TURNED SLIGHTLY R. AS A RESULT, I PASSED ABOVE AND TO THE R OF THE ACR Y ATR72 BY OVER 500 FT VERT AND ESTIMATED 1/4 - 1/2 MI OFF THE SIDE. I DO NOT THINK A COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD TAKEN NO ACTION, BUT IT WAS WAY TOO CLOSE AND SEPARATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. WE WERE RAPIDLY OVERTAKING THE ATR FROM BEHIND. ATC SHOULD HAVE TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 250 KTS AND EXPEDITE TO 14000 FT AND NO PROB WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

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.