An mdt in VMC had a TCASII RA with an small aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	213461
Time
Date	199206
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ste
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
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 : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 5500
ASRS Report	213461
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	213469
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

ZMP called VFR traffic at 12-12:30 O'clock, sswbound, 7500 ft, unconfirmed. As the aircraft got closer, we received a TA showing the aircraft 300 ft below us. The aircraft continued to close on us. When the RA 'monitor vertical speed' was heard, neither the PF (captain) nor I could see the altitude readout of the other aircraft on the TCASII screen due to the glare of the evening sun. We did see the red band on the lower portion of the vsi, and, immediately began a climb and radioed our TCASII deviation to ZMP (124.4). The aircraft was not sighted until it was within 1/2 mi and, his altitude was 7700 ft. We deviated our assigned IFR altitude of 8000 ft. However, no other conflict was caused. We returned to our assigned altitude and ZMP issued a descent clearance for cwa. Nothing more was said. Causes: lack of a local altimeter for the VFR aircraft and sun's glare on TCASII screens. Correction: additional shading on the TCASII screens or brighter integral lighting. VFR flight following providing updated altimeter setting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MDT IN VMC HAD A TCASII RA WITH AN SMA.

Narrative: ZMP CALLED VFR TFC AT 12-12:30 O'CLOCK, SSWBOUND, 7500 FT, UNCONFIRMED. AS THE ACFT GOT CLOSER, WE RECEIVED A TA SHOWING THE ACFT 300 FT BELOW US. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON US. WHEN THE RA 'MONITOR VERT SPD' WAS HEARD, NEITHER THE PF (CAPT) NOR I COULD SEE THE ALT READOUT OF THE OTHER ACFT ON THE TCASII SCREEN DUE TO THE GLARE OF THE EVENING SUN. WE DID SEE THE RED BAND ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VSI, AND, IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A CLB AND RADIOED OUR TCASII DEV TO ZMP (124.4). THE ACFT WAS NOT SIGHTED UNTIL IT WAS WITHIN 1/2 MI AND, HIS ALT WAS 7700 FT. WE DEVIATED OUR ASSIGNED IFR ALT OF 8000 FT. HOWEVER, NO OTHER CONFLICT WAS CAUSED. WE RETURNED TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT AND ZMP ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC FOR CWA. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID. CAUSES: LACK OF A LCL ALTIMETER FOR THE VFR ACFT AND SUN'S GLARE ON TCASII SCREENS. CORRECTION: ADDITIONAL SHADING ON THE TCASII SCREENS OR BRIGHTER INTEGRAL LIGHTING. VFR FLT FOLLOWING PROVIDING UPDATED ALTIMETER SETTING.

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.