Air carrier X TCASII TA RA climb and turn evasive action taken from ghost target.

Attributes
ACN	200908
Time
Date	199201
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	200908
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
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	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Air carrier X in cruise FL330. Cleared RNAV direct las VOR. Suddenly got TCASII warning 'traffic, traffic-climb,climb'. Started a climb immediately and advised ZLA (lax center) TCASII scope showed a fast moving red circle at approximately 5:30 our position closing. The information block showed a '-1' with and 'up arrow'. The warning continued until we had entered the 30 degree bank and climbed 1000 ft to FL340. We turned about 45 degrees. I don't know if this was a real aircraft or not. There are military operating areas close by and the target speed was consistent with a fighter type aircraft. ZLA reported that they had no known or observed traffic in the area. We never saw another target. Air carrier X TCASII TA RA climb and turn evasive action taken from ghost target.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TCASII TA RA CLB AND TURN EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN FROM GHOST TARGET.

Narrative: ACR X IN CRUISE FL330. CLRED RNAV DIRECT LAS VOR. SUDDENLY GOT TCASII WARNING 'TFC, TFC-CLB,CLB'. STARTED A CLB IMMEDIATELY AND ADVISED ZLA (LAX CTR) TCASII SCOPE SHOWED A FAST MOVING RED CIRCLE AT APPROX 5:30 OUR POS CLOSING. THE INFO BLOCK SHOWED A '-1' WITH AND 'UP ARROW'. THE WARNING CONTINUED UNTIL WE HAD ENTERED THE 30 DEG BANK AND CLBED 1000 FT TO FL340. WE TURNED ABOUT 45 DEGS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A REAL ACFT OR NOT. THERE ARE MIL OPERATING AREAS CLOSE BY AND THE TARGET SPD WAS CONSISTENT WITH A FIGHTER TYPE ACFT. ZLA RPTED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWN OR OBSERVED TFC IN THE AREA. WE NEVER SAW ANOTHER TARGET. ACR X TCASII TA RA CLB AND TURN EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN FROM GHOST TARGET.

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.