Narrative:

While approaching jfk over calverton VOR, 12000 ft 250 KTS, ATC advised VFR traffic 12 O'clock 5 mi, 11500 ft. We acknowledged commenting that he must be in the clouds. Visibility was less than 1 mi in and out of clouds in very hazy conditions. TCASII indicated TA. Next ATC issued heading right 280 degrees. I just started the turn, then received a resolution command to 'climb.' I immediately added power and started an aggressive climb advising ATC. We noted that the other aircraft continued climbing, TCASII indicating 11800 ft at highest point. After resolution was satisfied, we leveled around 13000 ft and received a new heading and altitude from ATC. We never did see the other aircraft. There is no way he was maintaining VFR. Supplemental information from acn 312240: plymouth arrival, marginal VMC above cloud deck (in and out) nyc approach called traffic, approximately 20 seconds later TCASII RA sounded. Captain immediately initiated climb. Nyc approach simultaneously assigned heading 280 degrees.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC EXPERIENCED LTSS WITH ACFT AT NON-STANDARD ALT IN IMC.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING JFK OVER CALVERTON VOR, 12000 FT 250 KTS, ATC ADVISED VFR TFC 12 O'CLOCK 5 MI, 11500 FT. WE ACKNOWLEDGED COMMENTING THAT HE MUST BE IN THE CLOUDS. VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 1 MI IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS IN VERY HAZY CONDITIONS. TCASII INDICATED TA. NEXT ATC ISSUED HDG R 280 DEGS. I JUST STARTED THE TURN, THEN RECEIVED A RESOLUTION COMMAND TO 'CLB.' I IMMEDIATELY ADDED PWR AND STARTED AN AGGRESSIVE CLB ADVISING ATC. WE NOTED THAT THE OTHER ACFT CONTINUED CLBING, TCASII INDICATING 11800 FT AT HIGHEST POINT. AFTER RESOLUTION WAS SATISFIED, WE LEVELED AROUND 13000 FT AND RECEIVED A NEW HDG AND ALT FROM ATC. WE NEVER DID SEE THE OTHER ACFT. THERE IS NO WAY HE WAS MAINTAINING VFR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 312240: PLYMOUTH ARR, MARGINAL VMC ABOVE CLOUD DECK (IN AND OUT) NYC APCH CALLED TFC, APPROX 20 SECONDS LATER TCASII RA SOUNDED. CAPT IMMEDIATELY INITIATED CLB. NYC APCH SIMULTANEOUSLY ASSIGNED HDG 280 DEGS.

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.