Narrative:

Scheduled air carrier descending into pvd. Cleared to descend to 8000 ft. We overheard ATC ask other aircraft VFR at 8500 ft as to his in-flight visibility. The other aircraft stated '4 mi.' the controller advised this aircraft that there was an airliner descending through his altitude. Shortly thereafter, we noticed this aircraft (we were descending at 1500 FPM through 9000 ft). As PF, I initiated an immediate pull-up without waiting for the TCASII because we were rapidly converging horizontally and vertically. I climbed over the intruder. When I tried to level, we received a TCASII RA to monitor vertical speed, and were soon clear of conflict. Note: the in-flight visibility was zero. The other pilot was flying VFR and reporting 4 mi when it was zero. This contributed to lulling the controller into complacency. I exercised my captain's authority/authorized to proactively maneuver away from the conflict and climbed contrary to clearance. Supplemental information from acn 553119: approximately 20 NM southwest of pvd, pvd approach called traffic descending, an airbus to my right. I transmitted 'I did not see the traffic.' the airbus pilot transmitted to approach he was IMC and had a TCASII alert that made him climb and that I must be in instrument conditions. Pvd approach then asked me my visibility to which I replied, 'my visibility is 3-4 mi.' the airbus pilot continued questioning the situation with pvd approach. Pvd approach said nothing else to me other than handing me off to the next controller.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW HAD AN NMAC WITH A BE35 IN PVD CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: SCHEDULED ACR DSNDING INTO PVD. CLRED TO DSND TO 8000 FT. WE OVERHEARD ATC ASK OTHER ACFT VFR AT 8500 FT AS TO HIS INFLT VISIBILITY. THE OTHER ACFT STATED '4 MI.' THE CTLR ADVISED THIS ACFT THAT THERE WAS AN AIRLINER DSNDING THROUGH HIS ALT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE NOTICED THIS ACFT (WE WERE DSNDING AT 1500 FPM THROUGH 9000 FT). AS PF, I INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE PULL-UP WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE TCASII BECAUSE WE WERE RAPIDLY CONVERGING HORIZLY AND VERTLY. I CLBED OVER THE INTRUDER. WHEN I TRIED TO LEVEL, WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA TO MONITOR VERT SPD, AND WERE SOON CLR OF CONFLICT. NOTE: THE INFLT VISIBILITY WAS ZERO. THE OTHER PLT WAS FLYING VFR AND RPTING 4 MI WHEN IT WAS ZERO. THIS CONTRIBUTED TO LULLING THE CTLR INTO COMPLACENCY. I EXERCISED MY CAPT'S AUTH TO PROACTIVELY MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE CONFLICT AND CLBED CONTRARY TO CLRNC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 553119: APPROX 20 NM SW OF PVD, PVD APCH CALLED TFC DSNDING, AN AIRBUS TO MY R. I XMITTED 'I DID NOT SEE THE TFC.' THE AIRBUS PLT XMITTED TO APCH HE WAS IMC AND HAD A TCASII ALERT THAT MADE HIM CLB AND THAT I MUST BE IN INST CONDITIONS. PVD APCH THEN ASKED ME MY VISIBILITY TO WHICH I REPLIED, 'MY VISIBILITY IS 3-4 MI.' THE AIRBUS PLT CONTINUED QUESTIONING THE SIT WITH PVD APCH. PVD APCH SAID NOTHING ELSE TO ME OTHER THAN HANDING ME OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR.

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.