<< >> NASA ASRS Report 304631, May 1995

Air carrier X descent to occupied altitude had less than standard separation from aircraft at occupied altitude. TCASII RA climb. System error.

Attributes
ACN	304631
Time
Date	199505
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vcn
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 13000
ASRS Report	304631
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We received a heading from phl approach of 350 degree after passing the vcn VOR. We also received a clearance to descend to 6000 ft. As we passed about 7000 ft we received a TCASII RA to climb. We climbed aggressively back to 8000 ft and notified ATC that we were 8000 ft taking corrective action. We then received a clearance to descend to 7000 ft. Phl approach realized their mistake and another controller took over. We continued on to a safe landing. In their zest to cover their mistake, they really wanted us to feel like we were receiving expedited handling to the runway. Because of this, we were vectored right behind a B757 'heavy' for a visual approach. We were much too close for wake turbulence avoidance, so we received additional vectors until normal separation was complete. We did our own wake turbulence avoidance. This was simply an ATC mistake, we followed our altitude awareness procedures to the letter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X DSCNT TO OCCUPIED ALT HAD LTSS FROM ACFT AT OCCUPIED ALT. TCASII RA CLB. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED A HDG FROM PHL APCH OF 350 DEG AFTER PASSING THE VCN VOR. WE ALSO RECEIVED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 6000 FT. AS WE PASSED ABOUT 7000 FT WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA TO CLB. WE CLBED AGGRESSIVELY BACK TO 8000 FT AND NOTIFIED ATC THAT WE WERE 8000 FT TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION. WE THEN RECEIVED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 7000 FT. PHL APCH REALIZED THEIR MISTAKE AND ANOTHER CTLR TOOK OVER. WE CONTINUED ON TO A SAFE LNDG. IN THEIR ZEST TO COVER THEIR MISTAKE, THEY REALLY WANTED US TO FEEL LIKE WE WERE RECEIVING EXPEDITED HANDLING TO THE RWY. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WERE VECTORED RIGHT BEHIND A B757 'HVY' FOR A VISUAL APCH. WE WERE MUCH TOO CLOSE FOR WAKE TURB AVOIDANCE, SO WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL VECTORS UNTIL NORMAL SEPARATION WAS COMPLETE. WE DID OUR OWN WAKE TURB AVOIDANCE. THIS WAS SIMPLY AN ATC MISTAKE, WE FOLLOWED OUR ALT AWARENESS PROCS TO THE LETTER.

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.