A DO328 flight crew is cleared for the visual approach and encounters a conflict with a B737.

Attributes
ACN	589206
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Do 328 TP (Turboprop)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 32
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	589206
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	589117
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were being vectored for a visual approach to runway 32 in pittsburgh. While on a 090 degree heading, being vectored for the approach, we called the airport in sight. Approach cleared us to 2500 ft and cleared us for the visual approach to runway 32. A B737 appeared at our altitude and less than 1 mi horizontal distance. We received an RA, stating 'stop descent.' our captain (the PF for the leg) banked right to avoid the B737. It banked right at the same time. ATC then asked if we had the aircraft in sight, gave us a 050 degree heading and told us to contact the tower, cleared for the visual runway 32. Contributing factors: we were never advised of the position of the aircraft we were following until it was too late. The TCASII did not show us the B737 until it suddenly gave us an RA, it was in below mode. The B737 was finally shown at our altitude and less than 1 mi away. While we had visual contact with the airport, we were in haze and could not see the B737. Corrective actions: ATC should notify us of the position of the aircraft we are following on a visual approach. TCASII should have given us a TA before the RA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DO328 FLT CREW IS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH AND ENCOUNTERS A CONFLICT WITH A B737.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 32 IN PITTSBURGH. WHILE ON A 090 DEG HDG, BEING VECTORED FOR THE APCH, WE CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT. APCH CLRED US TO 2500 FT AND CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 32. A B737 APPEARED AT OUR ALT AND LESS THAN 1 MI HORIZ DISTANCE. WE RECEIVED AN RA, STATING 'STOP DSCNT.' OUR CAPT (THE PF FOR THE LEG) BANKED R TO AVOID THE B737. IT BANKED R AT THE SAME TIME. ATC THEN ASKED IF WE HAD THE ACFT IN SIGHT, GAVE US A 050 DEG HDG AND TOLD US TO CONTACT THE TWR, CLRED FOR THE VISUAL RWY 32. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: WE WERE NEVER ADVISED OF THE POS OF THE ACFT WE WERE FOLLOWING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THE TCASII DID NOT SHOW US THE B737 UNTIL IT SUDDENLY GAVE US AN RA, IT WAS IN BELOW MODE. THE B737 WAS FINALLY SHOWN AT OUR ALT AND LESS THAN 1 MI AWAY. WHILE WE HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ARPT, WE WERE IN HAZE AND COULD NOT SEE THE B737. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: ATC SHOULD NOTIFY US OF THE POS OF THE ACFT WE ARE FOLLOWING ON A VISUAL APCH. TCASII SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A TA BEFORE THE RA.

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.