A DA2000 descending to FL330 with head-on traffic at FL320 took evasive action from a TCAS RA; climb...

Attributes
ACN	1245413
Time
Date	201503
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Falcon 2000
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 4480 Flight Crew Type 160
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 1450 Flight Crew Type 167
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Miss Distance	Vertical 1300

Narrative:

Upon descent from FL410 to FL330; ATC advised the crew that there was traffic at FL320 ahead. Weather conditions were intermittent IMC. The other aircraft appeared on our TCAS as a red diamond. Our aircraft was on a course that would have us cross directly overhead 1000 feet above. ATC directed us to turn ten degrees right for traffic; PF [pilot flying] complied; although it looked like a direct heading conflict; albeit a 1000 feet vertical clearance. As we approached the aircraft; our TCAS advised us to reduce descent rate and the pilot flying complied. In the transition to level through FL333; our resolution advisory activated directing us to pitch up and we complied and leveled at FL350. ATC was notified and asked us if we had seen the other aircraft climb. PNF [pilot not flying] responded no and told them we were responding to an RA and we were intermittent IMC. Flight continued to a successful landing. Upon a crew debrief it was agreed that in the future if there is a question about a heading it should be addressed with ATC. The crew saw a potential conflict coming and was prepared to react to an RA. A slower descent rate prior to level-off may have helped with the RA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DA2000 descending to FL330 with head-on traffic at FL320 took evasive action from a TCAS RA; climbing to clear the conflict. ATC had advised about the traffic.

Narrative: Upon descent from FL410 to FL330; ATC advised the crew that there was traffic at FL320 ahead. Weather conditions were intermittent IMC. The other aircraft appeared on our TCAS as a red diamond. Our aircraft was on a course that would have us cross directly overhead 1000 feet above. ATC directed us to turn ten degrees right for traffic; PF [Pilot Flying] complied; although it looked like a direct heading conflict; albeit a 1000 feet vertical clearance. As we approached the aircraft; our TCAS advised us to reduce descent rate and the pilot flying complied. In the transition to level through FL333; our Resolution Advisory activated directing us to pitch up and we complied and leveled at FL350. ATC was notified and asked us if we had seen the other aircraft climb. PNF [Pilot not Flying] responded no and told them we were responding to an RA and we were intermittent IMC. Flight continued to a successful landing. Upon a crew debrief it was agreed that in the future if there is a question about a heading it should be addressed with ATC. The crew saw a potential conflict coming and was prepared to react to an RA. A slower descent rate prior to level-off may have helped with the RA.

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.