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MD80 flight crew experienced TCASII RA at approximately 8000 ft on visual approach to sjc as ATC commented regarding the slow descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 633644 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200410 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : sjc.vor |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8400 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : nct.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-83 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 633644 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
We were at 8000 ft approaching jiffy intersection. Approach control seemed like they were overloaded because they kept us even higher than normal. We were given 'descend to 5000 ft' and to report the field in sight. At the same time we received a TA followed immediately by an RA and a command to climb. Symbol had popped up during the TA at under 3 mi and -200 ft, and closing. We climbed on the RA to 8300-8400 ft at which time TCASII gave a clear of conflict, and we started our descent. I called ATC to 'inform' them that we had to climb to respond to an RA and whether they saw the traffic on our right. Their response was that it took us 4 seconds to respond to their request instruction, and if we had descended as instructed the traffic would have passed over us. The closest point of passage was under 2 mi and 200 ft. If we had initiated an immediate 2000 FPM descent (without reading back the clearance), and the other aircraft was climbing at 2000 FPM, in 4 seconds the other aircraft would have passed safely 50-100 ft above us.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED TCASII RA AT APPROX 8000 FT ON VISUAL APCH TO SJC AS ATC COMMENTED REGARDING THE SLOW DSCNT.
Narrative: WE WERE AT 8000 FT APCHING JIFFY INTXN. APCH CTL SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE OVERLOADED BECAUSE THEY KEPT US EVEN HIGHER THAN NORMAL. WE WERE GIVEN 'DSND TO 5000 FT' AND TO RPT THE FIELD IN SIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME WE RECEIVED A TA FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN RA AND A COMMAND TO CLB. SYMBOL HAD POPPED UP DURING THE TA AT UNDER 3 MI AND -200 FT, AND CLOSING. WE CLBED ON THE RA TO 8300-8400 FT AT WHICH TIME TCASII GAVE A CLR OF CONFLICT, AND WE STARTED OUR DSCNT. I CALLED ATC TO 'INFORM' THEM THAT WE HAD TO CLB TO RESPOND TO AN RA AND WHETHER THEY SAW THE TFC ON OUR R. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IT TOOK US 4 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO THEIR REQUEST INSTRUCTION, AND IF WE HAD DSNDED AS INSTRUCTED THE TFC WOULD HAVE PASSED OVER US. THE CLOSEST POINT OF PASSAGE WAS UNDER 2 MI AND 200 FT. IF WE HAD INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE 2000 FPM DSCNT (WITHOUT READING BACK THE CLRNC), AND THE OTHER ACFT WAS CLBING AT 2000 FPM, IN 4 SECONDS THE OTHER ACFT WOULD HAVE PASSED SAFELY 50-100 FT ABOVE US.
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.