Narrative:

On initial contact with salt lake approach, we were given a 'descent to 12000 ft, local altimeter, heading 150 degrees, normal speed, and expect runway 34L.' first of all, that's too much information on an initial call. We read it back. In about 10 mi we got a TA call of '12 O'clock, 13000 ft' as we descended through about 13500 ft. Next came a 'turn to 220 degrees, and I show you 5 mi left of course.' I responded 'we are on a vector sir.' about this time we got an RA to 'descend, descend.' the copilot flew as I searched for the traffic. When I saw it, we came approximately 1 mi horizontal and 200 ft vertically (based on TCASII information). There may have been a miscom between approach and our cockpit. Fewer pieces of information (my personal maximum is 3) in one call, and increased controller vigilance for accurate readback is absolutely necessary. Supplemental information from acn 524431: approach gave us a turn to 150 degrees, descent. Altimeter, expected runway. The captain read back all information. Next call was turn to 220 degrees left of course with VFR traffic at 12000 ft and show you 'left of course.' we replied 'on a vector turning to 220 degrees. TA/RA started. I followed guidance. Captain picked up traffic. Avoided it. I think there was a communication breakdown or approach forgot that we were on vectors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 CREW WHILE ON VECTORS TO KSLC RESPONDED TO A TCAS 'DSND RA' AT 13000 FT.

Narrative: ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH SALT LAKE APCH, WE WERE GIVEN A 'DSCNT TO 12000 FT, LCL ALTIMETER, HDG 150 DEGS, NORMAL SPD, AND EXPECT RWY 34L.' FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S TOO MUCH INFO ON AN INITIAL CALL. WE READ IT BACK. IN ABOUT 10 MI WE GOT A TA CALL OF '12 O'CLOCK, 13000 FT' AS WE DSNDED THROUGH ABOUT 13500 FT. NEXT CAME A 'TURN TO 220 DEGS, AND I SHOW YOU 5 MI L OF COURSE.' I RESPONDED 'WE ARE ON A VECTOR SIR.' ABOUT THIS TIME WE GOT AN RA TO 'DSND, DSND.' THE COPLT FLEW AS I SEARCHED FOR THE TFC. WHEN I SAW IT, WE CAME APPROX 1 MI HORIZ AND 200 FT VERTLY (BASED ON TCASII INFO). THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MISCOM BTWN APCH AND OUR COCKPIT. FEWER PIECES OF INFO (MY PERSONAL MAXIMUM IS 3) IN ONE CALL, AND INCREASED CTLR VIGILANCE FOR ACCURATE READBACK IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 524431: APCH GAVE US A TURN TO 150 DEGS, DSCNT. ALTIMETER, EXPECTED RWY. THE CAPT READ BACK ALL INFO. NEXT CALL WAS TURN TO 220 DEGS L OF COURSE WITH VFR TFC AT 12000 FT AND SHOW YOU 'L OF COURSE.' WE REPLIED 'ON A VECTOR TURNING TO 220 DEGS. TA/RA STARTED. I FOLLOWED GUIDANCE. CAPT PICKED UP TFC. AVOIDED IT. I THINK THERE WAS A COM BREAKDOWN OR APCH FORGOT THAT WE WERE ON VECTORS.

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.