Air carrier X TCASII RA with ghost target unauthorized descent from assigned altitude. Pilot deviati...

Attributes
ACN	205741
Time
Date	199203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cvi
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 12 controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 10 controller supervisory : 7
ASRS Report	205741
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe 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 flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X advised of TCASII deviation; he descended 200 ft, then back up to FL350. He told me of deviation after the fact. No loss of separation. His TCASII equipment advised him to descend at 1800 FPM, that there was traffic at 3 O'clock, crossing left to right, same altitude. Ghost target disappeared after he started to descend, pilot spotted head-on traffic at FL330, 10 mi, so he climbed back up. Important: pilot's must tell ATC of intended TCASII resolution deviations (before they do it).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TCASII RA WITH GHOST TARGET UNAUTHORIZED DSCNT FROM ASSIGNED ALT. PLTDEV.

Narrative: ACR X ADVISED OF TCASII DEV; HE DSNDED 200 FT, THEN BACK UP TO FL350. HE TOLD ME OF DEV AFTER THE FACT. NO LOSS OF SEPARATION. HIS TCASII EQUIP ADVISED HIM TO DSND AT 1800 FPM, THAT THERE WAS TFC AT 3 O'CLOCK, XING L TO R, SAME ALT. GHOST TARGET DISAPPEARED AFTER HE STARTED TO DSND, PLT SPOTTED HEAD-ON TFC AT FL330, 10 MI, SO HE CLBED BACK UP. IMPORTANT: PLT'S MUST TELL ATC OF INTENDED TCASII RESOLUTION DEVS (BEFORE THEY DO IT).

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.

Air carrier X TCASII RA with ghost target unauthorized descent from assigned altitude. Pilot deviation.