Narrative:

At approximately 1;200 ft AGL we elected to go around due to heavy rain and tower issued windshear alert for our runway (26) at phx. Tower issued clearance to 3;000 ft MSL. As we reached 3;000 ft; tower pointed out VFR traffic at 3;500 ft and 11 o'clock moving right to left. Tower issued several more traffic alerts concerning the same target which I cannot recall the details of as I was quite busy controlling the aircraft; monitoring fuel and making return plans. Very suddenly we received a TCAS traffic alert followed immediately by an RA commanding a 1;500 FPM descent. At this point we were about 1;900 ft AGL; at night; in and out of clouds. I started a descent and reached an altitude of about 2;600 ft MSL when we saw the lights of an aircraft pass above us in the opposite direction at about our 10 o'clock. The lights did not pass directly over us but were off set a short distance to our left. The co-pilot says that she saw 300 ft depicted on the red TCAS icon on the TCAS screen. After the TCAS RA was resolved we returned to 3;000 ft MSL. Tower had been informed of our TCAS RA; the descent and the return to assigned altitude. I spoke with the ATC tower controller after landing and asked him why we were not kept at 2;500 ft MSL. He stated that at the time of the go around the other aircraft was at 3;500 ft and headed south away from the airport so he was not concerned with giving us 3;000 ft. According to him the traffic turned back north; then east while descending in rapid succession. He said that he issued us updated traffic alerts during this; which I believe is correct. He said he visually had us both in sight from the tower and saw that the small aircraft would pass behind us; which it did. My impression is that it would have been far less exciting for all concerned to have kept us at 2;500 ft until a maneuvering VFR target; at night; circumventing rain showers and thunderstorm cells; was safely out of the airport area. It doesn't seem that the tower was prepared for a go around and was caught by surprise.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Captain executed a go around on final to Runway 26 at PHX following a windshear alert in heavy rain and while responding to a TCAS RA experienced a near miss with an single engine aircraft maneuvering west of the airport.

Narrative: At approximately 1;200 FT AGL we elected to go around due to heavy rain and Tower issued windshear alert for our Runway (26) at PHX. Tower issued clearance to 3;000 FT MSL. As we reached 3;000 FT; Tower pointed out VFR traffic at 3;500 FT and 11 o'clock moving right to left. Tower issued several more traffic alerts concerning the same target which I cannot recall the details of as I was quite busy controlling the aircraft; monitoring fuel and making return plans. Very suddenly we received a TCAS traffic alert followed immediately by an RA commanding a 1;500 FPM descent. At this point we were about 1;900 FT AGL; at night; in and out of clouds. I started a descent and reached an altitude of about 2;600 FT MSL when we saw the lights of an aircraft pass above us in the opposite direction at about our 10 o'clock. The lights did not pass directly over us but were off set a short distance to our left. The Co-pilot says that she saw 300 FT depicted on the red TCAS icon on the TCAS screen. After the TCAS RA was resolved we returned to 3;000 FT MSL. Tower had been informed of our TCAS RA; the descent and the return to assigned altitude. I spoke with the ATC Tower Controller after landing and asked him why we were not kept at 2;500 FT MSL. He stated that at the time of the go around the other aircraft was at 3;500 FT and headed south away from the airport so he was not concerned with giving us 3;000 FT. According to him the traffic turned back north; then east while descending in rapid succession. He said that he issued us updated traffic alerts during this; which I believe is correct. He said he visually had us both in sight from the Tower and saw that the small aircraft would pass behind us; which it did. My impression is that it would have been far less exciting for all concerned to have kept us at 2;500 FT until a maneuvering VFR target; at night; circumventing rain showers and thunderstorm cells; was safely out of the airport area. It doesn't seem that the Tower was prepared for a go around and was caught by surprise.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.