Narrative:

While on radar vectors (right downwind) for landing runway 1 at dca, 2500 ft, heading 190 degrees, 180 KTS, a very busy ATC controller gave us 'turn to 330 degrees.' immediately thereafter, ATC commanded 'immediate climb to 4000 ft, a merlin at 12 O'clock position, thought I had already turned you west.' (note: I assume the merlin had been on a left downwind to final runway 1.) simultaneously we got a TA followed immediately by an RA to 'climb.' first officer was flying and already in right turn. First officer advised 'I have him.' I saw the merlin in a descending right turn approximately 1/2 mi and 500 ft below. At 3800 ft we leveled off as ATC apologized and gave us visual to runway 1 and to contact tower. This is my second TCASII save, both appear to have been 'overloaded' ATC errors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW VECTORED INTO A TFC CONFLICT.

Narrative: WHILE ON RADAR VECTORS (R DOWNWIND) FOR LNDG RWY 1 AT DCA, 2500 FT, HDG 190 DEGS, 180 KTS, A VERY BUSY ATC CTLR GAVE US 'TURN TO 330 DEGS.' IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, ATC COMMANDED 'IMMEDIATE CLB TO 4000 FT, A MERLIN AT 12 O'CLOCK POS, THOUGHT I HAD ALREADY TURNED YOU W.' (NOTE: I ASSUME THE MERLIN HAD BEEN ON A L DOWNWIND TO FINAL RWY 1.) SIMULTANEOUSLY WE GOT A TA FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN RA TO 'CLB.' FO WAS FLYING AND ALREADY IN R TURN. FO ADVISED 'I HAVE HIM.' I SAW THE MERLIN IN A DSNDING R TURN APPROX 1/2 MI AND 500 FT BELOW. AT 3800 FT WE LEVELED OFF AS ATC APOLOGIZED AND GAVE US VISUAL TO RWY 1 AND TO CONTACT TWR. THIS IS MY SECOND TCASII SAVE, BOTH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN 'OVERLOADED' ATC ERRORS.

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.