Air carrier on approach has close encounter with jump aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	236345
Time
Date	199303
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8400 msl bound upper : 9200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
ASRS Report	236345
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe 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
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

This event was a near miss while in contact with tus approach control. We were descending from 15000 ft to 7000 ft with a clearance of direct to tus VOR. We were on the 123 degree radial about 25 DME from the field when we spotted a twin engine aircraft at our 11 O'clock position doing turn maneuvers. While descending through 8400 ft we received a TCASII advisory. The twin suddenly turned toward us and the TCASII advisory changed to an RA calling for a 1500 FPM climb. We initiated the climb and leveled off at 9200 ft at which time the TCASII alert ended. Approach control then cleared us to 6000 ft and to reduce speed to 210 KTS. We advised approach control of the TCASII RA and that we climbed out of the conflict. He acknowledged and cleared us to 6000 ft and 170 KTS. He also indicated he had the other aircraft on radar. We were not initially aware of that. Later it was learned that the twin had us in sight and that this area was a drop area for jumpers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON APCH HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH JUMP ACFT.

Narrative: THIS EVENT WAS A NEAR MISS WHILE IN CONTACT WITH TUS APCH CTL. WE WERE DSNDING FROM 15000 FT TO 7000 FT WITH A CLRNC OF DIRECT TO TUS VOR. WE WERE ON THE 123 DEG RADIAL ABOUT 25 DME FROM THE FIELD WHEN WE SPOTTED A TWIN ENG ACFT AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK POS DOING TURN MANEUVERS. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 8400 FT WE RECEIVED A TCASII ADVISORY. THE TWIN SUDDENLY TURNED TOWARD US AND THE TCASII ADVISORY CHANGED TO AN RA CALLING FOR A 1500 FPM CLB. WE INITIATED THE CLB AND LEVELED OFF AT 9200 FT AT WHICH TIME THE TCASII ALERT ENDED. APCH CTL THEN CLRED US TO 6000 FT AND TO REDUCE SPD TO 210 KTS. WE ADVISED APCH CTL OF THE TCASII RA AND THAT WE CLBED OUT OF THE CONFLICT. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CLRED US TO 6000 FT AND 170 KTS. HE ALSO INDICATED HE HAD THE OTHER ACFT ON RADAR. WE WERE NOT INITIALLY AWARE OF THAT. LATER IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE TWIN HAD US IN SIGHT AND THAT THIS AREA WAS A DROP AREA FOR JUMPERS.

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.