Aircraft on final approach observed opposite direction traffic in close proximity.

Attributes
ACN	127359
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	127359
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Error

Narrative:

While on the localizer 31R at dfw, we spotted an aircraft at our 12 O'clock position at approximately our altitude (3000'). We observed the aircraft turn directly toward us (what appeared to be on the localizer heading opposite direction). The aircraft did have its landing lights on which is how we could tell its direction. As the aircraft got closer, we made a slight 'jaunt' to the right side of the localizer course. As the aircraft passed just slightly left and under us, approach calls 'traffic 11 O'clock 1 mi type unk'. The aircraft was a large jet, what appeared to be an large transport or medium large transport. It has become too common a practice of ATC, to put turboprop aircraft below the floor of the TCA, whether arriving or departing. In this situation we were at 3000', the TCA floor was 4000'. What's worse, what was an large transport doing at 2500' below the TCA, on the localizer course not talking to approach? This is just one of many daily encounters with 'traffic' below the TCA. This could've been a real nasty one over dallas, an large transport and light transport, occupying the same point in space.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT ON FINAL APCH OBSERVED OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC IN CLOSE PROX.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE LOC 31R AT DFW, WE SPOTTED AN ACFT AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POSITION AT APPROX OUR ALT (3000'). WE OBSERVED THE ACFT TURN DIRECTLY TOWARD US (WHAT APPEARED TO BE ON THE LOC HDG OPPOSITE DIRECTION). THE ACFT DID HAVE ITS LNDG LIGHTS ON WHICH IS HOW WE COULD TELL ITS DIRECTION. AS THE ACFT GOT CLOSER, WE MADE A SLIGHT 'JAUNT' TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LOC COURSE. AS THE ACFT PASSED JUST SLIGHTLY LEFT AND UNDER US, APCH CALLS 'TFC 11 O'CLOCK 1 MI TYPE UNK'. THE ACFT WAS A LARGE JET, WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN LGT OR MLG. IT HAS BECOME TOO COMMON A PRACTICE OF ATC, TO PUT TURBOPROP ACFT BELOW THE FLOOR OF THE TCA, WHETHER ARRIVING OR DEPARTING. IN THIS SITUATION WE WERE AT 3000', THE TCA FLOOR WAS 4000'. WHAT'S WORSE, WHAT WAS AN LGT DOING AT 2500' BELOW THE TCA, ON THE LOC COURSE NOT TALKING TO APCH? THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY DAILY ENCOUNTERS WITH 'TFC' BELOW THE TCA. THIS COULD'VE BEEN A REAL NASTY ONE OVER DALLAS, AN LGT AND LTT, OCCUPYING THE SAME POINT IN SPACE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.