A320 departure from sfo experienced TCASII RA with VFR BE90 at 12000 ft in ZOA's airspace.

Attributes
ACN	596011
Time
Date	200310
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lin.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Make Model Name	King Air 100 A/B
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	596011
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
ASRS Report	596012
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

I noticed a converging TCASII target about 10 NM away and at 2 O'clock position. We were heading east 30 NM west of the lin VOR. It seemed to be a conflict. We were climbing through 11000 ft (cleared to FL230) and the target was at 13500 ft. I picked up a tally-ho at about 5 mi and pointed it out to the captain (PF). Shortly thereafter we received a TCASII RA to 'descend.' the captain complied while I maintained a tally-ho and told ZOA that we were descending. ZOA replied that the other aircraft was visual and said he would pass behind us. We got within about 1/2 mi and 500 ft with the nwbound king air. We had to descend about 800 ft to get to 'clear of conflict.' we asked the controller what happened and he said the other aircraft was on another frequency and had us in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 DEP FROM SFO EXPERIENCED TCASII RA WITH VFR BE90 AT 12000 FT IN ZOA'S AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I NOTICED A CONVERGING TCASII TARGET ABOUT 10 NM AWAY AND AT 2 O'CLOCK POS. WE WERE HEADING E 30 NM W OF THE LIN VOR. IT SEEMED TO BE A CONFLICT. WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 11000 FT (CLRED TO FL230) AND THE TARGET WAS AT 13500 FT. I PICKED UP A TALLY-HO AT ABOUT 5 MI AND POINTED IT OUT TO THE CAPT (PF). SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA TO 'DSND.' THE CAPT COMPLIED WHILE I MAINTAINED A TALLY-HO AND TOLD ZOA THAT WE WERE DSNDING. ZOA REPLIED THAT THE OTHER ACFT WAS VISUAL AND SAID HE WOULD PASS BEHIND US. WE GOT WITHIN ABOUT 1/2 MI AND 500 FT WITH THE NWBOUND KING AIR. WE HAD TO DSND ABOUT 800 FT TO GET TO 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' WE ASKED THE CTLR WHAT HAPPENED AND HE SAID THE OTHER ACFT WAS ON ANOTHER FREQ AND HAD US IN SIGHT.

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.