B757-200 crew had a TCASII TA in slvr class east airspace.

Attributes
ACN	499426
Time
Date	200101
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbgl.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : slc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other Other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : foreign
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	499426
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

TCASII RA event. Inbound to vir VOR on air carrier X at FL330. I made a position report at the salce intersection. Requested a descent and deviation north of course for WX. Northerly deviation picked due to terrain consideration south of course. We were cleared to deviation to the north. During our descent, we were told to intercept the 305 degree radial inbound. We had trouble verifying the clearance because ATC was speaking spanish to another aircraft on the frequency. Continued our deviation for WX and slowly working our way to the 305 degree radial. At about 15000 ft, saw traffic on the TCASII and gained a visual on him. Turned to a more northerly heading and increased rate of descent. We received a TA after passing through his altitude (he was climbing). Believe separation was just under 10 mi. Our deviation slowed our progress to the 305 degree radial. A contributory factor was the use of spanish by the other aircraft and ATC. Our situational awareness was compromised by not understanding the spanish xmissions and not getting a timely verification of the clearance. Rest of the flight conducted in VFR conditions with an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 CREW HAD A TCASII TA IN SLVR CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: TCASII RA EVENT. INBOUND TO VIR VOR ON ACR X AT FL330. I MADE A POSITION RPT AT THE SALCE INTXN. REQUESTED A DSCNT AND DEV N OF COURSE FOR WX. NORTHERLY DEV PICKED DUE TO TERRAIN CONSIDERATION S OF COURSE. WE WERE CLRED TO DEV TO THE N. DURING OUR DSCNT, WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE 305 DEG RADIAL INBOUND. WE HAD TROUBLE VERIFYING THE CLRNC BECAUSE ATC WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO ANOTHER ACFT ON THE FREQ. CONTINUED OUR DEV FOR WX AND SLOWLY WORKING OUR WAY TO THE 305 DEG RADIAL. AT ABOUT 15000 FT, SAW TFC ON THE TCASII AND GAINED A VISUAL ON HIM. TURNED TO A MORE NORTHERLY HDG AND INCREASED RATE OF DSCNT. WE RECEIVED A TA AFTER PASSING THROUGH HIS ALT (HE WAS CLBING). BELIEVE SEPARATION WAS JUST UNDER 10 MI. OUR DEV SLOWED OUR PROGRESS TO THE 305 DEG RADIAL. A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR WAS THE USE OF SPANISH BY THE OTHER ACFT AND ATC. OUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WAS COMPROMISED BY NOT UNDERSTANDING THE SPANISH XMISSIONS AND NOT GETTING A TIMELY VERIFICATION OF THE CLRNC. REST OF THE FLT CONDUCTED IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

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.