TCASII RA. Flight crew descended in accordance with RA. Suspect false warning.

Attributes
ACN	328200
Time
Date	199602
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phk
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : mia
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	328200
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Day VFR prevailed. We were climbing out of mia in an AT42. Passing through 7000 ft on the 'hedly,' miami 7 departure, our TCASII issued an RA. The traffic was less than a mi at 12 O'clock same altitude as indicated on our TCASII. TCASII told us to descend at 2000 FPM which we did. We then advised ATC of our deviation. Upon passing through approximately 5000 ft, TCASII still showed the target at 12 O'clock and same altitude. ATC at this time told us we were in conflict with a nearby DC9 and he showed no traffic near us. At this time we determined the target was a 'ghost' and verified with ATC. We then climbed back to our assigned altitude of 11000 ft. TCASII worked properly after recycling for the remainder of the flight. We believe the problem in this case was a false warning and command by the TCASII system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA. FLC DSNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RA. SUSPECT FALSE WARNING.

Narrative: DAY VFR PREVAILED. WE WERE CLBING OUT OF MIA IN AN AT42. PASSING THROUGH 7000 FT ON THE 'HEDLY,' MIAMI 7 DEP, OUR TCASII ISSUED AN RA. THE TFC WAS LESS THAN A MI AT 12 O'CLOCK SAME ALT AS INDICATED ON OUR TCASII. TCASII TOLD US TO DSND AT 2000 FPM WHICH WE DID. WE THEN ADVISED ATC OF OUR DEV. UPON PASSING THROUGH APPROX 5000 FT, TCASII STILL SHOWED THE TARGET AT 12 O'CLOCK AND SAME ALT. ATC AT THIS TIME TOLD US WE WERE IN CONFLICT WITH A NEARBY DC9 AND HE SHOWED NO TFC NEAR US. AT THIS TIME WE DETERMINED THE TARGET WAS A 'GHOST' AND VERIFIED WITH ATC. WE THEN CLBED BACK TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 11000 FT. TCASII WORKED PROPERLY AFTER RECYCLING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. WE BELIEVE THE PROB IN THIS CASE WAS A FALSE WARNING AND COMMAND BY THE TCASII SYS.

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.