Very close proximity between air carrier and small aircraft. Operational error.

Attributes
ACN	188134
Time
Date	199109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : noise abatement
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	188134
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	187846
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Inter Facility Coordination Failure Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

After takeoff from dca on north river departure, captain was flying through 2200 ft at ATC called requesting level-off at 2000 ft. As captain commenced level-off, first officer and so noticed small aircraft Y at 1 O'clock on constant bearing, decreasing range at same altitude. Small aircraft Y was approximately 1/2 mi away. The first officer took controls and made 45-50 degree angle of bank left turn to evade traffic. TCASII worked properly to announce traffic and need to climb. After clearing traffic, first officer turned control back to captain. Turning back to departure course and aircraft was level at 3000 ft. Advised ATC of traffic conflict and requested subsequent departure instructions. Separate controllers were working each aircraft. Apparently miscom or lack of coordination resulted in this incident. ATC provided phone number to call after landing for an explanation. The captain never saw small aircraft Y because of the extreme nose high attitude in takeoff condition and then trying to stay over the river. The copilot (first officer) saved the day and my life. After all was over and we regained our composure, we were advised that small aircraft Y was on a photo mission.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VERY CLOSE PROX BTWN ACR AND SMA. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM DCA ON N RIVER DEP, CAPT WAS FLYING THROUGH 2200 FT AT ATC CALLED REQUESTING LEVEL-OFF AT 2000 FT. AS CAPT COMMENCED LEVEL-OFF, FO AND SO NOTICED SMA Y AT 1 O'CLOCK ON CONSTANT BEARING, DECREASING RANGE AT SAME ALT. SMA Y WAS APPROX 1/2 MI AWAY. THE FO TOOK CTLS AND MADE 45-50 DEG ANGLE OF BANK L TURN TO EVADE TFC. TCASII WORKED PROPERLY TO ANNOUNCE TFC AND NEED TO CLB. AFTER CLRING TFC, FO TURNED CTL BACK TO CAPT. TURNING BACK TO DEP COURSE AND ACFT WAS LEVEL AT 3000 FT. ADVISED ATC OF TFC CONFLICT AND REQUESTED SUBSEQUENT DEP INSTRUCTIONS. SEPARATE CTLRS WERE WORKING EACH ACFT. APPARENTLY MISCOM OR LACK OF COORD RESULTED IN THIS INCIDENT. ATC PROVIDED PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AFTER LNDG FOR AN EXPLANATION. THE CAPT NEVER SAW SMA Y BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE IN TKOF CONDITION AND THEN TRYING TO STAY OVER THE RIVER. THE COPLT (FO) SAVED THE DAY AND MY LIFE. AFTER ALL WAS OVER AND WE REGAINED OUR COMPOSURE, WE WERE ADVISED THAT SMA Y WAS ON A PHOTO MISSION.

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.