Light transport air carrier flight took evasive action when an F15 was observed approximately 500 ft directly in front of aircraft. TCASII had previously showed rapidly climbing traffic from beneath. PIC states better planning could have resulted if all aircraft were required to have xponders on.

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Attributes
ACN	397368
Time
Date	199803
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : orf tower : orf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Eagle (F-15)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1201
ASRS Report	397368
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At XA45 on mar/mon/98, both the captain and I noticed TCASII had picked up a fast moving object flying right to left (1 to 9 O'clock position), approximately 2500 ft below us and climbing. By the time we spotted the F15, he was at an altitude of 4000 ft MSL, respectively off our left wing, while we were at cruise (still at 5000 ft MSL). Turning back, immediately the captain noticed another F15 (not on TCASII) approximately 500 ft in front (12:30 O'clock position) and approximately same altitude. The captain took the controls and banked the aircraft right while the F15 banked to his right. No one was harmed, 1 passenger noticed the F15 and commented to the flight attendant. We reported the incident to norfolk approach and continued uneventfully to our destination (orf). I believe this problem could have been avoided if all formation flight aircraft are required to use a transponder and not just the lead aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT ACR FLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION WHEN AN F15 WAS OBSERVED APPROX 500 FT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ACFT. TCASII HAD PREVIOUSLY SHOWED RAPIDLY CLBING TFC FROM BENEATH. PIC STATES BETTER PLANNING COULD HAVE RESULTED IF ALL ACFT WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE XPONDERS ON.

Narrative: AT XA45 ON MAR/MON/98, BOTH THE CAPT AND I NOTICED TCASII HAD PICKED UP A FAST MOVING OBJECT FLYING R TO L (1 TO 9 O'CLOCK POS), APPROX 2500 FT BELOW US AND CLBING. BY THE TIME WE SPOTTED THE F15, HE WAS AT AN ALT OF 4000 FT MSL, RESPECTIVELY OFF OUR L WING, WHILE WE WERE AT CRUISE (STILL AT 5000 FT MSL). TURNING BACK, IMMEDIATELY THE CAPT NOTICED ANOTHER F15 (NOT ON TCASII) APPROX 500 FT IN FRONT (12:30 O'CLOCK POS) AND APPROX SAME ALT. THE CAPT TOOK THE CTLS AND BANKED THE ACFT R WHILE THE F15 BANKED TO HIS R. NO ONE WAS HARMED, 1 PAX NOTICED THE F15 AND COMMENTED TO THE FLT ATTENDANT. WE RPTED THE INCIDENT TO NORFOLK APCH AND CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY TO OUR DEST (ORF). I BELIEVE THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ALL FORMATION FLT ACFT ARE REQUIRED TO USE A XPONDER AND NOT JUST THE LEAD ACFT.

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.