Narrative:

Flight was from msp to lax. We were cleared to 14000 ft direct to bremer. ZLA said turn 275 degrees and stop descent at 15000 ft, there is VFR traffic at 12 O'clock 15000 ft. We got a TCASII RA 'descend now, descend now.' we descended to 14000 ft and saw the light aircraft pass off the left wing. ZLA said the VFR traffic was also in a descent. Supplemental information from acn 289984: we looked for traffic and could not sight him visually. We checked the TCASII and saw the target at 12 O'clock 4-5 mi at approximately same altitude (yellow). Center advised turn further right to a 290 degree or 295 degree heading when we got a RA 'descend now, descend now,' I cleared the area and executed a resolution. First officer advised center we were complying with resolution and that a descent was commenced. After TCASII advised 'monitor vertical speed,' clear of conflict, I leveled off at 14000 ft and center was advised. Center felt with vectors and altitude restr we would have cleared traffic, but not having him visually. I felt compelled to follow the RA. The first officer and so finally sighted traffic during evasive action and stated we came pretty close.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV.

Narrative: FLT WAS FROM MSP TO LAX. WE WERE CLRED TO 14000 FT DIRECT TO BREMER. ZLA SAID TURN 275 DEGS AND STOP DSCNT AT 15000 FT, THERE IS VFR TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK 15000 FT. WE GOT A TCASII RA 'DSND NOW, DSND NOW.' WE DSNDED TO 14000 FT AND SAW THE LIGHT ACFT PASS OFF THE L WING. ZLA SAID THE VFR TFC WAS ALSO IN A DSCNT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 289984: WE LOOKED FOR TFC AND COULD NOT SIGHT HIM VISUALLY. WE CHKED THE TCASII AND SAW THE TARGET AT 12 O'CLOCK 4-5 MI AT APPROX SAME ALT (YELLOW). CTR ADVISED TURN FURTHER R TO A 290 DEG OR 295 DEG HDG WHEN WE GOT A RA 'DSND NOW, DSND NOW,' I CLRED THE AREA AND EXECUTED A RESOLUTION. FO ADVISED CTR WE WERE COMPLYING WITH RESOLUTION AND THAT A DSCNT WAS COMMENCED. AFTER TCASII ADVISED 'MONITOR VERT SPD,' CLR OF CONFLICT, I LEVELED OFF AT 14000 FT AND CTR WAS ADVISED. CTR FELT WITH VECTORS AND ALT RESTR WE WOULD HAVE CLRED TFC, BUT NOT HAVING HIM VISUALLY. I FELT COMPELLED TO FOLLOW THE RA. THE FO AND SO FINALLY SIGHTED TFC DURING EVASIVE ACTION AND STATED WE CAME PRETTY CLOSE.

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.