Air carrier X TCASII RA with VFR Y evasive action taken. See and avoid concept.

Attributes
ACN	253184
Time
Date	199310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	253184
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Receiving radar vectors. Having been on a southeast heading we were told to turn right to 230 degrees and were in an assigned descent to 8000 ft. As we started the turn and were through 10000 ft we got a TA on a target to our right 800 ft below and climbing. The captain switched to 5 NM range as I scanned outside. With the target still climbing we got an RA to descend. We stopped our turn which was taking us into the target and beginning the pushover when the RA changed to a climb. The captain, who was flying, immediately executed the climb maneuvers. At about this same time I spotted the aircraft Y and visually ensured that we were on a satisfactory evasive tract. We got the 'clear of conflict' advisory when we broke through 10000 ft. We completed the roundout at 10300 ft and reinitiated our descent to 8000 ft and turn to 230 degrees. It turned out the target was a turboprop Y twin who I believe was VFR climbing to 9500 ft to release jumpers. He was on the frequency and I believe in radar contact. When we advised ATC of the conflict a different controller came on the radio with a vague acknowledgement. This is the third RA I've had while being radar vectored in 1 month. ATC only being responsible for separation between IFR traffic is absurd. Before TCASII, did we just not know how many close calls we had?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TCASII RA WITH VFR Y EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. SEE AND AVOID CONCEPT.

Narrative: RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS. HAVING BEEN ON A SE HDG WE WERE TOLD TO TURN R TO 230 DEGS AND WERE IN AN ASSIGNED DSCNT TO 8000 FT. AS WE STARTED THE TURN AND WERE THROUGH 10000 FT WE GOT A TA ON A TARGET TO OUR R 800 FT BELOW AND CLBING. THE CAPT SWITCHED TO 5 NM RANGE AS I SCANNED OUTSIDE. WITH THE TARGET STILL CLBING WE GOT AN RA TO DSND. WE STOPPED OUR TURN WHICH WAS TAKING US INTO THE TARGET AND BEGINNING THE PUSHOVER WHEN THE RA CHANGED TO A CLB. THE CAPT, WHO WAS FLYING, IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED THE CLB MANEUVERS. AT ABOUT THIS SAME TIME I SPOTTED THE ACFT Y AND VISUALLY ENSURED THAT WE WERE ON A SATISFACTORY EVASIVE TRACT. WE GOT THE 'CLR OF CONFLICT' ADVISORY WHEN WE BROKE THROUGH 10000 FT. WE COMPLETED THE ROUNDOUT AT 10300 FT AND REINITIATED OUR DSCNT TO 8000 FT AND TURN TO 230 DEGS. IT TURNED OUT THE TARGET WAS A TURBOPROP Y TWIN WHO I BELIEVE WAS VFR CLBING TO 9500 FT TO RELEASE JUMPERS. HE WAS ON THE FREQ AND I BELIEVE IN RADAR CONTACT. WHEN WE ADVISED ATC OF THE CONFLICT A DIFFERENT CTLR CAME ON THE RADIO WITH A VAGUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THIS IS THE THIRD RA I'VE HAD WHILE BEING RADAR VECTORED IN 1 MONTH. ATC ONLY BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SEPARATION BTWN IFR TFC IS ABSURD. BEFORE TCASII, DID WE JUST NOT KNOW HOW MANY CLOSE CALLS WE HAD?

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.