Altitude deviation account TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	174635
Time
Date	199104
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	174635
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While at 4000' MSL on vectors from pit approach for landing on runway 32, got a 'traffic' advisory on TCAS. Saw a solid yellow diamond at 12 O'clock to aircraft on TCAS screen. Switched screen to 5 mi scale and simultaneously got a 'climb' command. Had a solid red diamond less than 1/2 mi in front and 200' below at our 12 O'clock. Started immediate climb. Then within seconds received 'clear of traffic' advisory from TCAS. We climbed approximately 200' and had increased airspeed 30 KTS during climb maneuver. Approach control became very upset at our deviation from their assigned altitude and airspeed. During subsequent phone call to RAPCON, they seemed unaware of pilot obligation to follow TCAS commands when conflicting aircraft is not in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ACCOUNT TCASII RA.

Narrative: WHILE AT 4000' MSL ON VECTORS FROM PIT APCH FOR LNDG ON RWY 32, GOT A 'TFC' ADVISORY ON TCAS. SAW A SOLID YELLOW DIAMOND AT 12 O'CLOCK TO ACFT ON TCAS SCREEN. SWITCHED SCREEN TO 5 MI SCALE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GOT A 'CLB' COMMAND. HAD A SOLID RED DIAMOND LESS THAN 1/2 MI IN FRONT AND 200' BELOW AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK. STARTED IMMEDIATE CLB. THEN WITHIN SECS RECEIVED 'CLR OF TFC' ADVISORY FROM TCAS. WE CLBED APPROX 200' AND HAD INCREASED AIRSPD 30 KTS DURING CLB MANEUVER. APCH CTL BECAME VERY UPSET AT OUR DEVIATION FROM THEIR ASSIGNED ALT AND AIRSPD. DURING SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALL TO RAPCON, THEY SEEMED UNAWARE OF PLT OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW TCAS COMMANDS WHEN CONFLICTING ACFT IS NOT IN SIGHT.

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.