Large transport has TCASII RA with no traffic in vicinity. Ghost target.

Attributes
ACN	236338
Time
Date	199303
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bam
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34500 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zlc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	235338
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Traffic suddenly appeared on HSI as a TA about 12 mi at 12 O'clock to 11 O'clock, then became an RA about 6 mi (same altitude, opposite direction). 'Descend' RA became 'increase descent' as target altitude followed us down as we descended. RA ceased and we leveled about FL345. Then a 'climb' RA was issued and we began climbing. Target on HSI passed through our nose opposite direction and shortly disappeared from HSI. No visual was ever established. ATC had been advised of original descent and that we were now climbing and cleared us to maintain FL370 (after RA maneuvering was over). ATC said they had experienced several false RA's in that area in last few days and confirmed there was no other traffic near us at FL370 (our altitude when first RA was issued). We did have same way (nebound) traffic at 11 O'clock, 20 mi, FL330, and also at 5 O'clock, 20 mi, FL370. Aircraft log history showed 4 or 5 TCASII gripes in last 5 or 6 days, including false RA's. This seemed to be another false RA, and there was no conflict with actual traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT HAS TCASII RA WITH NO TFC IN VICINITY. GHOST TARGET.

Narrative: TFC SUDDENLY APPEARED ON HSI AS A TA ABOUT 12 MI AT 12 O'CLOCK TO 11 O'CLOCK, THEN BECAME AN RA ABOUT 6 MI (SAME ALT, OPPOSITE DIRECTION). 'DSND' RA BECAME 'INCREASE DSCNT' AS TARGET ALT FOLLOWED US DOWN AS WE DSNDED. RA CEASED AND WE LEVELED ABOUT FL345. THEN A 'CLB' RA WAS ISSUED AND WE BEGAN CLBING. TARGET ON HSI PASSED THROUGH OUR NOSE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND SHORTLY DISAPPEARED FROM HSI. NO VISUAL WAS EVER ESTABLISHED. ATC HAD BEEN ADVISED OF ORIGINAL DSCNT AND THAT WE WERE NOW CLBING AND CLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL370 (AFTER RA MANEUVERING WAS OVER). ATC SAID THEY HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FALSE RA'S IN THAT AREA IN LAST FEW DAYS AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC NEAR US AT FL370 (OUR ALT WHEN FIRST RA WAS ISSUED). WE DID HAVE SAME WAY (NEBOUND) TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK, 20 MI, FL330, AND ALSO AT 5 O'CLOCK, 20 MI, FL370. ACFT LOG HISTORY SHOWED 4 OR 5 TCASII GRIPES IN LAST 5 OR 6 DAYS, INCLUDING FALSE RA'S. THIS SEEMED TO BE ANOTHER FALSE RA, AND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ACTUAL TFC.

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.