An SR22 pilot and the controller involved describe a near midair collision caused by an MD80 crew re...

Attributes
ACN	1201826
Time
Date	201409
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	AUS.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	SR22
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 2900 Flight Crew Type 700
Person 2
Function	Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Military 5 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 11 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Clearance
Miss Distance	Horizontal 150 Vertical 100

Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight and our route took us about 5 miles to the west of aus. I was on flight following; so I was talking to ATC. I was sitting in the left seat; but there was a student pilot sitting in the right seat and he was flying the airplane. Austin approach told us to maintain at or above 4;500 MSL. I clarified to make sure that he had said at or above or at or below. He confirmed at or above 4;500 MSL. He told an air carrier flight to maintain 4;000. I saw the air carrier off my left side; approximately 3 miles away. He was in a right hand turn toward the north; while I was heading southerly. As I watched; he began a climbing left hand turn toward me. ATC had not told him to climb or turn. When I saw the air carrier begin the climbing left turn; I took the controls from the student. As he came closer to me; still climbing; it was clear that if I did not take evasive action; we would collide. I began a rapid descent with a turn to the right to avoid him. Our traffic awareness system gave us an alert just as he was beginning his climb; but I had him in sight visually the entire time and maneuvered the airplane based on what I saw; not on the traffic awareness system. We missed each other; but not by much. Afterward; ATC queried the air carrier as to why they had began a climbing left hand turn. The pilot said and repeated several times it was due to a TCAS resolution advisory that apparently told them to make a climbing left hand turn. I firmly believe the TCAS system in their aircraft was wrong because it took them directly into us; not away from us as the resolution advisory is supposed to do. I don't believe the air carrier crew had our aircraft in sight; either; as why would they make that climbing left hand turn if they saw us? Austin approach gave me a phone number to call them and I contacted them afterward and recounted what happened as I did above.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An SR22 pilot and the Controller involved describe a NMAC caused by an MD80 crew responding to a TCAS RA. The MD80 exceeded their assigned altitude of 4;000 feet and the SR22 pilot had to dive out of 4;500 feet to avoid them.

Narrative: I was on a VFR flight and our route took us about 5 miles to the west of AUS. I was on flight following; so I was talking to ATC. I was sitting in the left seat; but there was a student pilot sitting in the right seat and he was flying the airplane. Austin Approach told us to maintain at or above 4;500 MSL. I clarified to make sure that he had said at or above or at or below. He confirmed at or above 4;500 MSL. He told an Air carrier flight to maintain 4;000. I saw the Air Carrier off my left side; approximately 3 miles away. He was in a right hand turn toward the north; while I was heading southerly. As I watched; he began a climbing left hand turn toward me. ATC had not told him to climb or turn. When I saw the Air Carrier begin the climbing left turn; I took the controls from the Student. As he came closer to me; still climbing; it was clear that if I did not take evasive action; we would collide. I began a rapid descent with a turn to the right to avoid him. Our traffic awareness system gave us an alert just as he was beginning his climb; but I had him in sight visually the entire time and maneuvered the airplane based on what I saw; not on the traffic awareness system. We missed each other; but not by much. Afterward; ATC queried the Air Carrier as to why they had began a climbing left hand turn. The pilot said and repeated several times it was due to a TCAS resolution advisory that apparently told them to make a climbing left hand turn. I firmly believe the TCAS system in their aircraft was wrong because it took them directly into us; not away from us as the resolution advisory is supposed to do. I don't believe the Air Carrier crew had our aircraft in sight; either; as why would they make that climbing left hand turn if they saw us? Austin Approach gave me a phone number to call them and I contacted them afterward and recounted what happened as I did above.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

An SR22 pilot and the controller involved describe a near midair collision caused by an MD80 crew responding to a TCAS RA. The MD80 exceeded their assigned altitude of 4;000 feet and the SR22 pilot had to dive out of 4;500 feet to avoid them.