B737 flight crew has a TCAS RA on arrival into oak.

Attributes
ACN	704998
Time
Date	200608
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : pxn
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 228 flight time type : 9600
ASRS Report	704998
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were vectored off the panoche arrival into oak due to traffic. We were at 7000 ft; heading 310 degrees; 210 KTS on the oak 093 degree radial at about 30 DME; just outside the sfo class B airspace. We got a very late TCAS RA; at about 1 mi. Traffic at 12 O'clock position; 6500 ft and climbing. It immediately caused a 'climb' command; and we climbed to 7700 ft and watched the light twin go from 12 O'clock position to 11 O'clock position and pass our left; climbing to about 7000 ft and 1000 ft laterally. We informed norcal of our response to the RA; and after the conflict; immediately descended back to 7000 ft. In the middle of our event; norcal did advise us of a 'traffic alert; 11 O'clock position and 1 mi.' norcal needs to re-evaluate the arrival procedures for the bay area. We see numerous light aircraft just outside and under the sfo class B airspace in this area. Vectoring commercial air at these altitudes over the hills is asking for a midair.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS A TCAS RA ON ARR INTO OAK.

Narrative: WE WERE VECTORED OFF THE PANOCHE ARR INTO OAK DUE TO TFC. WE WERE AT 7000 FT; HDG 310 DEGS; 210 KTS ON THE OAK 093 DEG RADIAL AT ABOUT 30 DME; JUST OUTSIDE THE SFO CLASS B AIRSPACE. WE GOT A VERY LATE TCAS RA; AT ABOUT 1 MI. TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK POS; 6500 FT AND CLBING. IT IMMEDIATELY CAUSED A 'CLB' COMMAND; AND WE CLBED TO 7700 FT AND WATCHED THE LIGHT TWIN GO FROM 12 O'CLOCK POS TO 11 O'CLOCK POS AND PASS OUR L; CLBING TO ABOUT 7000 FT AND 1000 FT LATERALLY. WE INFORMED NORCAL OF OUR RESPONSE TO THE RA; AND AFTER THE CONFLICT; IMMEDIATELY DSNDED BACK TO 7000 FT. IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR EVENT; NORCAL DID ADVISE US OF A 'TFC ALERT; 11 O'CLOCK POS AND 1 MI.' NORCAL NEEDS TO RE-EVALUATE THE ARR PROCS FOR THE BAY AREA. WE SEE NUMEROUS LIGHT ACFT JUST OUTSIDE AND UNDER THE SFO CLASS B AIRSPACE IN THIS AREA. VECTORING COMMERCIAL AIR AT THESE ALTS OVER THE HILLS IS ASKING FOR A MIDAIR.

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.