A319 PIC stops descent when observing traffic passing below and away from intended flight path.

Attributes
ACN	453612
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fdy.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute airway : v279.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	453612
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We (X) were given a descent from FL190 to 10000 ft and told to maintain 2500 FPM through 11000 ft. We complied with the rate, however, passing 14000 ft we got a TCASII TA for traffic (Y) inside of 2 mi and ahead of us. (He was at 12000 ft.) ATC did not warn us of the traffic or of any impending conflict. I called center and told them that this descent was not going to work and if we continued to 10000 ft we were going to get an RA. I thought it unnecessary, if not dangerous. I told them we were stopping our descent at 13000 ft to allow the aircraft to pass. Center said the aircraft was passing off our left and we continued the descent to 10000 ft. Again after the partial clearance, center was of little help. In fact, the clearance is what caused the problem. I do not see the need for this type of controling.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 PIC STOPS DSCNT WHEN OBSERVING TFC PASSING BELOW AND AWAY FROM INTENDED FLT PATH.

Narrative: WE (X) WERE GIVEN A DSCNT FROM FL190 TO 10000 FT AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN 2500 FPM THROUGH 11000 FT. WE COMPLIED WITH THE RATE, HOWEVER, PASSING 14000 FT WE GOT A TCASII TA FOR TFC (Y) INSIDE OF 2 MI AND AHEAD OF US. (HE WAS AT 12000 FT.) ATC DID NOT WARN US OF THE TFC OR OF ANY IMPENDING CONFLICT. I CALLED CTR AND TOLD THEM THAT THIS DSCNT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK AND IF WE CONTINUED TO 10000 FT WE WERE GOING TO GET AN RA. I THOUGHT IT UNNECESSARY, IF NOT DANGEROUS. I TOLD THEM WE WERE STOPPING OUR DSCNT AT 13000 FT TO ALLOW THE ACFT TO PASS. CTR SAID THE ACFT WAS PASSING OFF OUR L AND WE CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO 10000 FT. AGAIN AFTER THE PARTIAL CLRNC, CTR WAS OF LITTLE HELP. IN FACT, THE CLRNC IS WHAT CAUSED THE PROB. I DO NOT SEE THE NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF CTLING.

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.