DC9 crew takes evasive action in response to TCASII RA on initial climb in mem airspace.

Attributes
ACN	428807
Time
Date	199902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl single value : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon tower : mem.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : mem.tower
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	428807
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : mem.airport

Narrative:

This is the second time I've had an RA. Both times, tower is using split frequencys (stl, and now, mem). Simply controller error without us being able to hear all traffic in the area. Was almost a very bad day. Departed runway 36L with clearance to climb to 5000 ft and turn to 310 degrees. First officer was flying. At 500 ft AGL, left turn was started. Received RA stating 'climb, climb now!' at approximately 600 ft AGL. First officer continued climb. TCASII unit showed target to be right next to us on right side, showing at our altitude ('00' was next to his target). Tower handed us off to departure. I asked tower if there was traffic that just passed us. He said 'no.' we then checked in with departure whereupon they confirmed that there was traffic heading away from us, a bonanza. Called tower back and requested its n-number. Suspect our 19 degree pitch and left turn kept us from seeing this traffic. This was very close.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW TAKES EVASIVE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO TCASII RA ON INITIAL CLB IN MEM AIRSPACE.

Narrative: THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD AN RA. BOTH TIMES, TWR IS USING SPLIT FREQS (STL, AND NOW, MEM). SIMPLY CTLR ERROR WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO HEAR ALL TFC IN THE AREA. WAS ALMOST A VERY BAD DAY. DEPARTED RWY 36L WITH CLRNC TO CLB TO 5000 FT AND TURN TO 310 DEGS. FO WAS FLYING. AT 500 FT AGL, L TURN WAS STARTED. RECEIVED RA STATING 'CLB, CLB NOW!' AT APPROX 600 FT AGL. FO CONTINUED CLB. TCASII UNIT SHOWED TARGET TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO US ON R SIDE, SHOWING AT OUR ALT ('00' WAS NEXT TO HIS TARGET). TWR HANDED US OFF TO DEP. I ASKED TWR IF THERE WAS TFC THAT JUST PASSED US. HE SAID 'NO.' WE THEN CHKED IN WITH DEP WHEREUPON THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS TFC HDG AWAY FROM US, A BONANZA. CALLED TWR BACK AND REQUESTED ITS N-NUMBER. SUSPECT OUR 19 DEG PITCH AND L TURN KEPT US FROM SEEING THIS TFC. THIS WAS VERY CLOSE.

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.