A B767-200 flight crew descends to avoid a police C210 that had turned into them, 500 ft above, 12 m...

Attributes
ACN	495640
Time
Date	200012
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	495640
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On approach to a localizer for runway 31 at lga, we were advised of traffic at 4500 ft. We spotted the traffic and as we were approaching the maspeth tanks, the traffic started turning into us. Our TCASII alerted and we became concerned about separation. We descended 500 ft to ensure our safety. When we were clear, we returned to 4000 ft. Aircraft #2 said he never left 4500 ft, but with the TCASII advisory, the lack of separation was not enough to make us feel safe for ourselves and our passenger. The traffic and ATC both felt separation was ok, but no one advised us that the traffic was turning into our flight path. In review, if the aircraft had warned of his turn we might have felt more comfortable. The aircraft was only given flight following, but was under his own guidance. ATC was not aware that he was going to turn as we approached.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-200 FLC DSNDS TO AVOID A POLICE C210 THAT HAD TURNED INTO THEM, 500 FT ABOVE, 12 MI FROM LGA, NY.

Narrative: ON APCH TO A LOC FOR RWY 31 AT LGA, WE WERE ADVISED OF TFC AT 4500 FT. WE SPOTTED THE TFC AND AS WE WERE APCHING THE MASPETH TANKS, THE TFC STARTED TURNING INTO US. OUR TCASII ALERTED AND WE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT SEPARATION. WE DSNDED 500 FT TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY. WHEN WE WERE CLR, WE RETURNED TO 4000 FT. ACFT #2 SAID HE NEVER LEFT 4500 FT, BUT WITH THE TCASII ADVISORY, THE LACK OF SEPARATION WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE US FEEL SAFE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PAX. THE TFC AND ATC BOTH FELT SEPARATION WAS OK, BUT NO ONE ADVISED US THAT THE TFC WAS TURNING INTO OUR FLT PATH. IN REVIEW, IF THE ACFT HAD WARNED OF HIS TURN WE MIGHT HAVE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE. THE ACFT WAS ONLY GIVEN FLT FOLLOWING, BUT WAS UNDER HIS OWN GUIDANCE. ATC WAS NOT AWARE THAT HE WAS GOING TO TURN AS WE APCHED.

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.

A B767-200 flight crew descends to avoid a police C210 that had turned into them, 500 ft above, 12 mi from lga, ny.