DC9 required to make 2 TCASII maneuvers for 2 B737's when xferred from one ZME controller to another...

Attributes
ACN	540078
Time
Date	200202
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bna.vortac
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zme.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j39.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	540078
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

We experienced RA #1 according to the above data. We also had another RA in which evasive action was taken. Approximately 30-60 seconds later the captain started the recovery from RA #1. This (RA #2) occurred in the descent (from FL291 peak altitude from RA #1) at FL284. This evasive action required the captain to climb to FL295. The RA's occurred on 118.27. We had just been turned over from 124.27, ZME. The first encounter happened while we were in cruise flight. After the evasive action, I (the first officer) looked for the traffic and saw a B737 out my right side window. This distance was not only close, but frightening in that the B737 was not or didn't appear to be in evasive action. The B737 was climbing right through our altitude as if they were completely unaware of our position. After the first RA and we started the recovery to FL280, we encountered another RA at FL284 in the descent. The captain (PF) responded and began evasive action in response to the TCASII instructions. This time we ended up 300 yards from another B737. Too close for anyone's comfort! I believe the problem here was poor communication between controller handling us and the B737. Poor communication between the 2 controllers handing us off to the next.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 REQUIRED TO MAKE 2 TCASII MANEUVERS FOR 2 B737'S WHEN XFERRED FROM ONE ZME CTLR TO ANOTHER.

Narrative: WE EXPERIENCED RA #1 ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE DATA. WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER RA IN WHICH EVASIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. APPROX 30-60 SECONDS LATER THE CAPT STARTED THE RECOVERY FROM RA #1. THIS (RA #2) OCCURRED IN THE DSCNT (FROM FL291 PEAK ALT FROM RA #1) AT FL284. THIS EVASIVE ACTION REQUIRED THE CAPT TO CLB TO FL295. THE RA'S OCCURRED ON 118.27. WE HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OVER FROM 124.27, ZME. THE FIRST ENCOUNTER HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN CRUISE FLT. AFTER THE EVASIVE ACTION, I (THE FO) LOOKED FOR THE TFC AND SAW A B737 OUT MY R SIDE WINDOW. THIS DISTANCE WAS NOT ONLY CLOSE, BUT FRIGHTENING IN THAT THE B737 WAS NOT OR DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE IN EVASIVE ACTION. THE B737 WAS CLBING RIGHT THROUGH OUR ALT AS IF THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF OUR POS. AFTER THE FIRST RA AND WE STARTED THE RECOVERY TO FL280, WE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER RA AT FL284 IN THE DSCNT. THE CAPT (PF) RESPONDED AND BEGAN EVASIVE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE TCASII INSTRUCTIONS. THIS TIME WE ENDED UP 300 YARDS FROM ANOTHER B737. TOO CLOSE FOR ANYONE'S COMFORT! I BELIEVE THE PROB HERE WAS POOR COM BTWN CTLR HANDLING US AND THE B737. POOR COM BTWN THE 2 CTLRS HANDING US OFF TO THE NEXT.

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.