Altitude deviation altitude excursion by air carrier medium large transport after TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	186784
Time
Date	199108
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tus tower : flo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 6700 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	186784
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance 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	vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Under radar control with tucson approach at 6000 ft approach called traffic out at 12 O'clock, 5 mi, at 5500 ft. We had traffic, a high wing small aircraft, visual holding at 5500 ft in sight, the small aircraft had us in sight and approach has both aircraft on radar, a totally legal and safe situation. TCAS began its traffic advisory sequence and we advised approach of impending 'conflict' and need to climb. TCAS showed traffic as -3. TCAS then went to 'monitor vertical speed' (no descent), then 'climb climb 1200 FPM'. Due to FAA and company directives we were not given any option but to follow the directive and climb. We also advised approach control of this. Maximum altitude was 6500 ft. Once clear of 'conflict' we returned to 6000 MSL. Captain debriefed incident with approach control supervisor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEV ALT EXCURSION BY ACR MLG AFTER TCASII RA.

Narrative: UNDER RADAR CTL WITH TUCSON APCH AT 6000 FT APCH CALLED TFC OUT AT 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MI, AT 5500 FT. WE HAD TFC, A HIGH WING SMA, VISUAL HOLDING AT 5500 FT IN SIGHT, THE SMA HAD US IN SIGHT AND APCH HAS BOTH ACFT ON RADAR, A TOTALLY LEGAL AND SAFE SITUATION. TCAS BEGAN ITS TFC ADVISORY SEQUENCE AND WE ADVISED APCH OF IMPENDING 'CONFLICT' AND NEED TO CLB. TCAS SHOWED TFC AS -3. TCAS THEN WENT TO 'MONITOR VERT SPD' (NO DSCNT), THEN 'CLB CLB 1200 FPM'. DUE TO FAA AND COMPANY DIRECTIVES WE WERE NOT GIVEN ANY OPTION BUT TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVE AND CLB. WE ALSO ADVISED APCH CTL OF THIS. MAX ALT WAS 6500 FT. ONCE CLR OF 'CONFLICT' WE RETURNED TO 6000 MSL. CAPT DEBRIEFED INCIDENT WITH APCH CTL SUPVR.

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.