Narrative:

While being vectored for the VOR DME a approach to teb, we were instructed to descend to 2000 ft MSL. This is unusual because 3000 ft is the initial altitude to cross wanes intersection. This descent puts us below the floor of the ewr class B airspace. We slowed to 200 KIAS, and excused the altitude as a means for the controller to slow us down. In reality he forgot which approach we were doing. 2000 ft is appropriate for an ILS to runway 19. As we descended to 2000 ft, I (as PNF) adjusted radar/TCASII to 5 mi range. I noticed traffic at 5 mi at 2000 ft at 12 O'clock position. Approach was busy talking to other aircraft. We leveled at 2000 ft and acquired the conflicting traffic at 3 mi (TCASII range). Recognizing a collision was imminent, I called for a turn to the left. The PF started a turn, then increased the rate as he acquired the C210. I queried the controller about the traffic as it passed off the right wing. His response was to intercept the localizer for runway 19. My reply was, 'I thought we were doing the VOR/DME a circle to runway 19.' so then the controller told us to join the VOR/DME final approach course. I asked what were we doing 'here at 2000 ft' and got no response? As we joined the approach course outside of jaymo intersection, we were told to call teb tower. End of story. P.south. We were coming from lex via the metropolitan 4 SID. From ard VOR we were vectored over mmu airport which is normal, usually at 3000 ft. From there it is normal to go direct to wanes intersection or intercept the course just outside of wanes. Today we went right over essex county at 2000 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: G5 AND C210 HAD AN NMAC AFTER THE CTLR CLRED THE G5 TO DSND BELOW THE CLASS B FLOOR OF THE TCA.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE VOR DME A APCH TO TEB, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO DSND TO 2000 FT MSL. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE 3000 FT IS THE INITIAL ALT TO CROSS WANES INTXN. THIS DSCNT PUTS US BELOW THE FLOOR OF THE EWR CLASS B AIRSPACE. WE SLOWED TO 200 KIAS, AND EXCUSED THE ALT AS A MEANS FOR THE CTLR TO SLOW US DOWN. IN REALITY HE FORGOT WHICH APCH WE WERE DOING. 2000 FT IS APPROPRIATE FOR AN ILS TO RWY 19. AS WE DSNDED TO 2000 FT, I (AS PNF) ADJUSTED RADAR/TCASII TO 5 MI RANGE. I NOTICED TFC AT 5 MI AT 2000 FT AT 12 O'CLOCK POS. APCH WAS BUSY TALKING TO OTHER ACFT. WE LEVELED AT 2000 FT AND ACQUIRED THE CONFLICTING TFC AT 3 MI (TCASII RANGE). RECOGNIZING A COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, I CALLED FOR A TURN TO THE L. THE PF STARTED A TURN, THEN INCREASED THE RATE AS HE ACQUIRED THE C210. I QUERIED THE CTLR ABOUT THE TFC AS IT PASSED OFF THE R WING. HIS RESPONSE WAS TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR RWY 19. MY REPLY WAS, 'I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THE VOR/DME A CIRCLE TO RWY 19.' SO THEN THE CTLR TOLD US TO JOIN THE VOR/DME FINAL APCH COURSE. I ASKED WHAT WERE WE DOING 'HERE AT 2000 FT' AND GOT NO RESPONSE? AS WE JOINED THE APCH COURSE OUTSIDE OF JAYMO INTXN, WE WERE TOLD TO CALL TEB TWR. END OF STORY. P.S. WE WERE COMING FROM LEX VIA THE METRO 4 SID. FROM ARD VOR WE WERE VECTORED OVER MMU ARPT WHICH IS NORMAL, USUALLY AT 3000 FT. FROM THERE IT IS NORMAL TO GO DIRECT TO WANES INTXN OR INTERCEPT THE COURSE JUST OUTSIDE OF WANES. TODAY WE WENT RIGHT OVER ESSEX COUNTY AT 2000 FT.

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.