Narrative:

We were on J24; about 45 NM from fak VOR when ZDC instructed us to descend from FL210 to FL190. I started a 1500 FPM descent. Shortly after starting our descent; we were issued a TA by our TCAS and observed traffic at about FL200 on the display. I immediately got a visual on our traffic converging at about our 1-2 O'clock position. The traffic's path and proximity seemed too close for me to expedite through his altitude; so I decided to stop our descent about 500 ft above him. At about this time center issued expedited vectors of 90 degree heading for us and a divergent heading for our traffic. We never received an RA from our TCAS because I stopped our descent. However; the controller was noticeably flustered after this event. I can't be sure how close we came to conflicting traffic because I lost him in the turn. We completed the flight without further incident. The TA from our TCAS warned us of the conflicting traffic; the expedited turn instructions issued by ATC; and the controller seemed very shaken after the event. I made visual contact with the traffic once we received the TA. I stopped our descent when; in my judgement; we were too close to the converging traffic to descend safely through his altitude. ATC issued divergent vectors to both aircraft. I don't want to speculate; but the controller sounded very busy on the frequency.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR ACR WITH ZDC IN DESCENT RECEIVED TCAS TA; OBSERVED TFC AND LEVELED OFF TO AVOID TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE ON J24; ABOUT 45 NM FROM FAK VOR WHEN ZDC INSTRUCTED US TO DSND FROM FL210 TO FL190. I STARTED A 1500 FPM DSCNT. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING OUR DSCNT; WE WERE ISSUED A TA BY OUR TCAS AND OBSERVED TFC AT ABOUT FL200 ON THE DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY GOT A VISUAL ON OUR TFC CONVERGING AT ABOUT OUR 1-2 O'CLOCK POS. THE TFC'S PATH AND PROX SEEMED TOO CLOSE FOR ME TO EXPEDITE THROUGH HIS ALT; SO I DECIDED TO STOP OUR DSCNT ABOUT 500 FT ABOVE HIM. AT ABOUT THIS TIME CTR ISSUED EXPEDITED VECTORS OF 90 DEG HDG FOR US AND A DIVERGENT HDG FOR OUR TFC. WE NEVER RECEIVED AN RA FROM OUR TCAS BECAUSE I STOPPED OUR DSCNT. HOWEVER; THE CTLR WAS NOTICEABLY FLUSTERED AFTER THIS EVENT. I CAN'T BE SURE HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO CONFLICTING TFC BECAUSE I LOST HIM IN THE TURN. WE COMPLETED THE FLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TA FROM OUR TCAS WARNED US OF THE CONFLICTING TFC; THE EXPEDITED TURN INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY ATC; AND THE CTLR SEEMED VERY SHAKEN AFTER THE EVENT. I MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE TFC ONCE WE RECEIVED THE TA. I STOPPED OUR DSCNT WHEN; IN MY JUDGEMENT; WE WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE CONVERGING TFC TO DSND SAFELY THROUGH HIS ALT. ATC ISSUED DIVERGENT VECTORS TO BOTH ACFT. I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE; BUT THE CTLR SOUNDED VERY BUSY ON THE FREQ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.