Air carrier was issued traffic while in the clouds and believes other aircraft was VMC in IMC condit...

Attributes
ACN	138739
Time
Date	199003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dpk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : n90
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	138739
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Ny approach cleared my aircraft to descend to 8000' and reported VFR traffic at 12 O'clock 7500'. Overcast cloud deck was entered at 8500'. Further descent showed bottom of cloud deck to be 5800'. I advised controller of IMC conditions but was indirectly advised to mind my own business. VFR operations in IFR flight conditions are illegal and unsafe. Approach apparently made no attempt to determine actual flight conditions of VFR aircraft. As a result, I believe my IMC altitude sep was reduced to 500'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS ISSUED TRAFFIC WHILE IN THE CLOUDS AND BELIEVES OTHER ACFT WAS VMC IN IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: NY APCH CLRED MY ACFT TO DSND TO 8000' AND RPTED VFR TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK 7500'. OVCST CLOUD DECK WAS ENTERED AT 8500'. FURTHER DSCNT SHOWED BOTTOM OF CLOUD DECK TO BE 5800'. I ADVISED CTLR OF IMC CONDITIONS BUT WAS INDIRECTLY ADVISED TO MIND MY OWN BUSINESS. VFR OPS IN IFR FLT CONDITIONS ARE ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE. APCH APPARENTLY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE ACTUAL FLT CONDITIONS OF VFR ACFT. AS A RESULT, I BELIEVE MY IMC ALT SEP WAS REDUCED TO 500'.

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

Air carrier was issued traffic while in the clouds and believes other aircraft was VMC in IMC conditions.