Emj flight crew experienced TCASII TA at approximately 11000 ft with unrpted traffic as ATC issued v...

Attributes
ACN	656176
Time
Date	200504
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Embraer Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	656176
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	656177
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

After cleared to join J149 and climb to 17000 ft we were in the process of climbing through 11000 ft when we got TCASII TA showing traffic closing 500 ft above us at 10 O'clock position. Not an RA; but still since I was PF I disconnected autoplt and leveled off as the other aircraft asked about traffic 500 ft below his altitude. ATC then gave him a vector; followed by giving us a vector and then the TA cleared. ATC then told us to expedite climb through 14000 ft; which we found somewhat confusing but we complied when it was clear we were clear of the traffic. We never saw the traffic since we were IMC; nor did ATC make any comment. We continued on to ord without any further incident. Based on displayed TCASII information we were not less than but not much more than a mile or two from the traffic; but there was no visual contact due to the IMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMJ FLT CREW EXPERIENCED TCASII TA AT APPROX 11000 FT WITH UNRPTED TFC AS ATC ISSUED VECTORS.

Narrative: AFTER CLRED TO JOIN J149 AND CLB TO 17000 FT WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CLBING THROUGH 11000 FT WHEN WE GOT TCASII TA SHOWING TFC CLOSING 500 FT ABOVE US AT 10 O'CLOCK POS. NOT AN RA; BUT STILL SINCE I WAS PF I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND LEVELED OFF AS THE OTHER ACFT ASKED ABOUT TFC 500 FT BELOW HIS ALT. ATC THEN GAVE HIM A VECTOR; FOLLOWED BY GIVING US A VECTOR AND THEN THE TA CLRED. ATC THEN TOLD US TO EXPEDITE CLB THROUGH 14000 FT; WHICH WE FOUND SOMEWHAT CONFUSING BUT WE COMPLIED WHEN IT WAS CLR WE WERE CLR OF THE TFC. WE NEVER SAW THE TFC SINCE WE WERE IMC; NOR DID ATC MAKE ANY COMMENT. WE CONTINUED ON TO ORD WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. BASED ON DISPLAYED TCASII INFO WE WERE NOT LESS THAN BUT NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MILE OR TWO FROM THE TFC; BUT THERE WAS NO VISUAL CONTACT DUE TO THE IMC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Emj flight crew experienced TCASII TA at approximately 11000 ft with unrpted traffic as ATC issued vectors.