B767 vectored by N90 controller experienced near midair collision with unknown traffic at 5000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	621889
Time
Date	200406
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : n90.tracon
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 3000 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	621889
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Received an RA from a TCASII target we were monitoring. The airspace was heavily congested and we expected a vector away from this aircraft. The crew was observing closely as it changed from solid white to yellow to red with the associated 'climb, climb' command. We reacted immediately to the threat and the target passed within 200 ft directly below us. After we safely evaded the target, I immediately informed new york approach control of the event. We had been assigned 5000 ft and climbed to approximately 6300 ft during the maneuver. As we were returning to previously assigned altitude, the controller (who was extremely busy) seemed to become extremely irate with us. I reported a short description of the event to him and we resumed vectors for the approach. I view this as an extremely dangerous event and the controller's reaction as much too cavalier for the incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 VECTORED BY N90 CTLR EXPERIENCED NMAC WITH UNKNOWN TFC AT 5000 FT.

Narrative: RECEIVED AN RA FROM A TCASII TARGET WE WERE MONITORING. THE AIRSPACE WAS HEAVILY CONGESTED AND WE EXPECTED A VECTOR AWAY FROM THIS ACFT. THE CREW WAS OBSERVING CLOSELY AS IT CHANGED FROM SOLID WHITE TO YELLOW TO RED WITH THE ASSOCIATED 'CLB, CLB' COMMAND. WE REACTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE THREAT AND THE TARGET PASSED WITHIN 200 FT DIRECTLY BELOW US. AFTER WE SAFELY EVADED THE TARGET, I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED NEW YORK APCH CTL OF THE EVENT. WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED 5000 FT AND CLBED TO APPROX 6300 FT DURING THE MANEUVER. AS WE WERE RETURNING TO PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED ALT, THE CTLR (WHO WAS EXTREMELY BUSY) SEEMED TO BECOME EXTREMELY IRATE WITH US. I RPTED A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT TO HIM AND WE RESUMED VECTORS FOR THE APCH. I VIEW THIS AS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EVENT AND THE CTLR'S REACTION AS MUCH TOO CAVALIER FOR THE INCIDENT.

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.