Air carrier medium large transport reversed climb and descent 2500 ft in response to TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	186052
Time
Date	199108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	186052
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

During climb out I leveled at 6000 MSL. Departure called out a commuter at our 10 O'clock position. I never saw him visually, but had him on the TCASII. Departure told the commuter to 'maintain visual separation' and gave us a climb clearance. After initiating my climb the TCASII gave us a descend RA for a 1500-2000 FPM descent. I saw our paths converging on the TCAS scope and reversed my climb immediately to follow the RA. I dove back to approximately 3500 MSL and airspeed went to 280 KTS before we received the 'clear of conflict' call. Departure should not have vectored us so close together. Even with the maintain visual call, there was no reason to get 2 airplanes within 1/4 mi of each other.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG REVERSED CLB AND DSCNT 2500 FT IN RESPONSE TO TCASII RA.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT I LEVELED AT 6000 MSL. DEP CALLED OUT A COMMUTER AT OUR 10 O'CLOCK POS. I NEVER SAW HIM VISUALLY, BUT HAD HIM ON THE TCASII. DEP TOLD THE COMMUTER TO 'MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION' AND GAVE US A CLB CLRNC. AFTER INITIATING MY CLB THE TCASII GAVE US A DSND RA FOR A 1500-2000 FPM DSCNT. I SAW OUR PATHS CONVERGING ON THE TCAS SCOPE AND REVERSED MY CLB IMMEDIATELY TO FOLLOW THE RA. I DOVE BACK TO APPROX 3500 MSL AND AIRSPEED WENT TO 280 KTS BEFORE WE RECEIVED THE 'CLR OF CONFLICT' CALL. DEP SHOULD NOT HAVE VECTORED US SO CLOSE TOGETHER. EVEN WITH THE MAINTAIN VISUAL CALL, THERE WAS NO REASON TO GET 2 AIRPLANES WITHIN 1/4 MI OF EACH OTHER.

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.