MD88 initiates TCASII RA climb on vector to atl runway 8L final approach course in WX.

Attributes
ACN	514233
Time
Date	200106
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	514233
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	514434
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : nmac inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were on vectors for ILS runway 8L to atl. We were given a 090 degree heading. On TCASII we saw an aircraft approaching our altitude. We received an RA to climb. We climbed to 6500 ft. Observed the aircraft on TCASII 200 ft below us. We were IMC and saw nothing outside. Informed approach of RA and climb. He said 'that's good.' controller workload was very high due to thunderstorms in the vicinity. Supplemental information from acn 514244: aircraft #1 was on 180 degree heading (tracking approximately 150 degrees) vectors to downwind for runway 8L at atl. Aircraft #2 was on 270 degree heading on the downwind. Both aircraft were at 600 ft, but aircraft #2 was descending to 5000 ft. Both aircraft were being worked by different controllers. Due to thunderstorms near the final approach course it was necessary to turn a 15 mi final. Aircraft #2 was turned to a 330 degree heading for delay vectors due to thunderstorms. Aircraft #1 was turned left to a 090 degree heading for a double downwind vector to sequence behind traffic on the downwind. Aircraft #1 tracked 3.5 mi from that point before a turn to the east became apparent. Aircraft #2 was turned to a 270 degree heading back for the downwind. Both aircraft passed each other with less than standard separation. Other factors: 1) aircraft #1 -- slow to take turns. 2) thunderstorms on final require delay vectors on downwind due to compression in final box.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 INITIATES TCASII RA CLB ON VECTOR TO ATL RWY 8L FINAL APCH COURSE IN WX.

Narrative: WE WERE ON VECTORS FOR ILS RWY 8L TO ATL. WE WERE GIVEN A 090 DEG HDG. ON TCASII WE SAW AN ACFT APCHING OUR ALT. WE RECEIVED AN RA TO CLB. WE CLBED TO 6500 FT. OBSERVED THE ACFT ON TCASII 200 FT BELOW US. WE WERE IMC AND SAW NOTHING OUTSIDE. INFORMED APCH OF RA AND CLB. HE SAID 'THAT'S GOOD.' CTLR WORKLOAD WAS VERY HIGH DUE TO TSTMS IN THE VICINITY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 514244: ACFT #1 WAS ON 180 DEG HDG (TRACKING APPROX 150 DEGS) VECTORS TO DOWNWIND FOR RWY 8L AT ATL. ACFT #2 WAS ON 270 DEG HDG ON THE DOWNWIND. BOTH ACFT WERE AT 600 FT, BUT ACFT #2 WAS DSNDING TO 5000 FT. BOTH ACFT WERE BEING WORKED BY DIFFERENT CTLRS. DUE TO TSTMS NEAR THE FINAL APCH COURSE IT WAS NECESSARY TO TURN A 15 MI FINAL. ACFT #2 WAS TURNED TO A 330 DEG HDG FOR DELAY VECTORS DUE TO TSTMS. ACFT #1 WAS TURNED L TO A 090 DEG HDG FOR A DOUBLE DOWNWIND VECTOR TO SEQUENCE BEHIND TFC ON THE DOWNWIND. ACFT #1 TRACKED 3.5 MI FROM THAT POINT BEFORE A TURN TO THE E BECAME APPARENT. ACFT #2 WAS TURNED TO A 270 DEG HDG BACK FOR THE DOWNWIND. BOTH ACFT PASSED EACH OTHER WITH LTSS. OTHER FACTORS: 1) ACFT #1 -- SLOW TO TAKE TURNS. 2) TSTMS ON FINAL REQUIRE DELAY VECTORS ON DOWNWIND DUE TO COMPRESSION IN FINAL BOX.

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.