During a descent from FL330 to FL290, an MD88 crew received and responded to a TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	624749
Time
Date	200407
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : srq.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 215 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	624749
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 214 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	624073
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar/mode c aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While descending through FL310 (FL330-FL290) and deviating around thunderstorms, we received a TA approximately 7-5 mi out at 200 ft. At this point center began calling out vectors to other aircraft to turn to 270 degrees also attempted to contact another aircraft for vectors. During this we received an RA to descend. During this maneuver ATC called for us to descend to FL290. Upon leveling at FL290, we received another TA for an aircraft at FL280. Great for TCASII. 2 separate controllers were heard on the frequency. Supplemental information from acn 624073: this TCASII system probably saved all of the people on the aircraft. Leveled at FL290.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A DSCNT FROM FL330 TO FL290, AN MD88 CREW RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO A TCASII RA.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING THROUGH FL310 (FL330-FL290) AND DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS, WE RECEIVED A TA APPROX 7-5 MI OUT AT 200 FT. AT THIS POINT CTR BEGAN CALLING OUT VECTORS TO OTHER ACFT TO TURN TO 270 DEGS ALSO ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ANOTHER ACFT FOR VECTORS. DURING THIS WE RECEIVED AN RA TO DSND. DURING THIS MANEUVER ATC CALLED FOR US TO DSND TO FL290. UPON LEVELING AT FL290, WE RECEIVED ANOTHER TA FOR AN ACFT AT FL280. GREAT FOR TCASII. 2 SEPARATE CTLRS WERE HEARD ON THE FREQ. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 624073: THIS TCASII SYS PROBABLY SAVED ALL OF THE PEOPLE ON THE ACFT. LEVELED AT FL290.

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.