A descending MD88 sights and has a conflict with another MD88 converging below 15 mi northwest of at...

Attributes
ACN	448837
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : atl.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	448837
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Airspace Structure

Narrative:

We were descending on a clearance to 6000 ft for an approach to the atl airport. We were about 15 mi to the northwest, heading southeast, on vectors to intercept the final approach course for runway 8L. Passing through 7000 ft, we noticed another aircraft below us on a converging course, flying on downwind for runway 8L. I slowed our descent rate, planning to level in order to avoid the traffic. Approach control called us and told us to level at 6500 ft. Subsequent to the call from approach, we received a TCASII RA indicating a climb. I disconnected the autoplt, started a climb and began a turn to the east. A second call from approach directed us to turn to a heading of 060 degrees. The traffic passed below us and to our right, minimum separation between us and the conflicting traffic was estimated at 1 mi horizontal and 400 ft vertical. The airspace surrounding the atl airport was saturated with arrival and departure traffic. Runway 9R was closed and arrs from the south were being vectored for lndgs on runway 9L. The approach controller working the frequency was working non-stop controling arrs. It was obvious that he was overloaded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING MD88 SIGHTS AND HAS A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER MD88 CONVERGING BELOW 15 MI NW OF ATL, GA.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING ON A CLRNC TO 6000 FT FOR AN APCH TO THE ATL ARPT. WE WERE ABOUT 15 MI TO THE NW, HDG SE, ON VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR RWY 8L. PASSING THROUGH 7000 FT, WE NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT BELOW US ON A CONVERGING COURSE, FLYING ON DOWNWIND FOR RWY 8L. I SLOWED OUR DSCNT RATE, PLANNING TO LEVEL IN ORDER TO AVOID THE TFC. APCH CTL CALLED US AND TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 6500 FT. SUBSEQUENT TO THE CALL FROM APCH, WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA INDICATING A CLB. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT, STARTED A CLB AND BEGAN A TURN TO THE E. A SECOND CALL FROM APCH DIRECTED US TO TURN TO A HDG OF 060 DEGS. THE TFC PASSED BELOW US AND TO OUR R, MINIMUM SEPARATION BTWN US AND THE CONFLICTING TFC WAS ESTIMATED AT 1 MI HORIZ AND 400 FT VERT. THE AIRSPACE SURROUNDING THE ATL ARPT WAS SATURATED WITH ARR AND DEP TFC. RWY 9R WAS CLOSED AND ARRS FROM THE S WERE BEING VECTORED FOR LNDGS ON RWY 9L. THE APCH CTLR WORKING THE FREQ WAS WORKING NON-STOP CTLING ARRS. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS OVERLOADED.

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.

A descending MD88 sights and has a conflict with another MD88 converging below 15 mi northwest of atl, GA.