TCASII alert. Pilot induced slight climb caused alert.

Attributes
ACN	303211
Time
Date	199504
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	303212
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing ksna, departure control had us maintain present heading (about 194 degrees) and 5000 ft MSL because of VFR traffic at 5500 ft MSL, headed eastbound. As the VFR target passed above us, ATC turned us left toward the VFR traffic. We lost sight of the aircraft and also got a TCASII RA. I believe the RA occurred because our aircraft climbed slightly during the turn. The captain was advised and corrected immediately. Nevertheless, during a critical departure such as the ksna SID, ATC should not allow VFR aircraft to fly in the vicinity. Also, turning us toward the VFR aircraft made me uneasy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII ALERT. PLT INDUCED SLIGHT CLB CAUSED ALERT.

Narrative: DEPARTING KSNA, DEP CTL HAD US MAINTAIN PRESENT HDG (ABOUT 194 DEGS) AND 5000 FT MSL BECAUSE OF VFR TFC AT 5500 FT MSL, HEADED EBOUND. AS THE VFR TARGET PASSED ABOVE US, ATC TURNED US L TOWARD THE VFR TFC. WE LOST SIGHT OF THE ACFT AND ALSO GOT A TCASII RA. I BELIEVE THE RA OCCURRED BECAUSE OUR ACFT CLBED SLIGHTLY DURING THE TURN. THE CAPT WAS ADVISED AND CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. NEVERTHELESS, DURING A CRITICAL DEP SUCH AS THE KSNA SID, ATC SHOULD NOT ALLOW VFR ACFT TO FLY IN THE VICINITY. ALSO, TURNING US TOWARD THE VFR ACFT MADE ME UNEASY.

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.