A MD80 flight crew experience a TCASII TA RA while on approach into sat.

Attributes
ACN	586777
Time
Date	200306
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	586777
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

At 6000 ft on approach control, 20 mi southeast of airport, TCASII TA popped up showing target 500 ft below within 2 mi. Seconds later, commanded a climb RA -- climbed aircraft to 6300 ft until clear of conflict was announced. Returned to 6000 ft, and completed approach and landing. Informed ATC of the deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MD80 FLT CREW EXPERIENCE A TCASII TA RA WHILE ON APCH INTO SAT.

Narrative: AT 6000 FT ON APCH CTL, 20 MI SE OF ARPT, TCASII TA POPPED UP SHOWING TARGET 500 FT BELOW WITHIN 2 MI. SECONDS LATER, COMMANDED A CLB RA -- CLBED ACFT TO 6300 FT UNTIL CLR OF CONFLICT WAS ANNOUNCED. RETURNED TO 6000 FT, AND COMPLETED APCH AND LNDG. INFORMED ATC OF THE DEV.

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.