Visual separation not used. Air carrier X had less than standard separation, near midair collision from air carrier Y on final approach to same runway. Evasive action taken. System error.

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Attributes
ACN	240321
Time
Date	199304
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ewr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	240321
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X syr to ewr. We were performing the ILS runway 22L circle to runway 29 in newark. We checked in with tower at the OM and was instructed to commence the circle and we were told we were cleared to land runway 29. I am the first officer. I was slightly high when I commenced the turn from base to final, I was 1-2 mi from the runway. Suddenly, an air carrier Y medium large transport asked the tower 'what is this light transport doing?' the captain looked down and saw air carrier Y right below us. He took control, banked 45 degrees, leveled off the descent and called for flaps 45 degrees (the short field flap setting). Tower immediately asked if we had the traffic and we responded 'yes.' he told us to follow him in. We had to reduce to 100 KTS to get separated. Tower never told us we were following anyone. Nothing else was said, by anyone. If air carrier Y did not say anything, we very well would have descended right on top of him, or if I was on the jet's glide path, right into him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VISUAL SEPARATION NOT USED. ACR X HAD LTSS, NMAC FROM ACR Y ON FINAL APCH TO SAME RWY. EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X SYR TO EWR. WE WERE PERFORMING THE ILS RWY 22L CIRCLE TO RWY 29 IN NEWARK. WE CHKED IN WITH TWR AT THE OM AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO COMMENCE THE CIRCLE AND WE WERE TOLD WE WERE CLRED TO LAND RWY 29. I AM THE FO. I WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH WHEN I COMMENCED THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, I WAS 1-2 MI FROM THE RWY. SUDDENLY, AN ACR Y MLG ASKED THE TWR 'WHAT IS THIS LTT DOING?' THE CAPT LOOKED DOWN AND SAW ACR Y RIGHT BELOW US. HE TOOK CTL, BANKED 45 DEGS, LEVELED OFF THE DSCNT AND CALLED FOR FLAPS 45 DEGS (THE SHORT FIELD FLAP SETTING). TWR IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF WE HAD THE TFC AND WE RESPONDED 'YES.' HE TOLD US TO FOLLOW HIM IN. WE HAD TO REDUCE TO 100 KTS TO GET SEPARATED. TWR NEVER TOLD US WE WERE FOLLOWING ANYONE. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID, BY ANYONE. IF ACR Y DID NOT SAY ANYTHING, WE VERY WELL WOULD HAVE DSNDED RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM, OR IF I WAS ON THE JET'S GLIDE PATH, RIGHT INTO HIM.

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.