An MD80 maintaining FL190 receives a TCASII RA on opposite direction traffic also at FL190, and descends to FL184. The other aircraft was observed passing overhead at FL190.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	391507
Time
Date	199801
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tqa
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18400 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 4600
ASRS Report	391507
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	391518
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 600
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We were on a scheduled flight from tucson to dallas ft worth. We were west of the tuscola VOR on a direct course. At FL190 we got an RA from TCASII 'descend, descend now.' we complied by descending. At FL184 we got a 'clear of conflict.' we noticed on the TCASII display and visually that another aircraft passed overhead in opposite direction at approximately FL190. While descending ATC was notified of RA compliance. A climb back to FL190 was accomplished when we got the 'clear of conflict' announcement. The ATC controller said 'sorry about that.' normally we would have been at a higher altitude, but due to turbulence at all the upper altitudes, we were flying at FL190 as cleared by ATC. It seemed like all the other flts on our frequencys were requesting lower altitudes like us for the smoother ride.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 MAINTAINING FL190 RECEIVES A TCASII RA ON OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC ALSO AT FL190, AND DSNDS TO FL184. THE OTHER ACFT WAS OBSERVED PASSING OVERHEAD AT FL190.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM TUCSON TO DALLAS FT WORTH. WE WERE W OF THE TUSCOLA VOR ON A DIRECT COURSE. AT FL190 WE GOT AN RA FROM TCASII 'DSND, DSND NOW.' WE COMPLIED BY DSNDING. AT FL184 WE GOT A 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' WE NOTICED ON THE TCASII DISPLAY AND VISUALLY THAT ANOTHER ACFT PASSED OVERHEAD IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT APPROX FL190. WHILE DSNDING ATC WAS NOTIFIED OF RA COMPLIANCE. A CLB BACK TO FL190 WAS ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE GOT THE 'CLR OF CONFLICT' ANNOUNCEMENT. THE ATC CTLR SAID 'SORRY ABOUT THAT.' NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A HIGHER ALT, BUT DUE TO TURB AT ALL THE UPPER ALTS, WE WERE FLYING AT FL190 AS CLRED BY ATC. IT SEEMED LIKE ALL THE OTHER FLTS ON OUR FREQS WERE REQUESTING LOWER ALTS LIKE US FOR THE SMOOTHER RIDE.

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.