B737 flight crew stopped descending and climbing during descent in response to a TCASII RA and approach controller requested them to hold at an altitude through which they had just passed.

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Attributes
ACN	528027
Time
Date	200110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 5100
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit.tower tower : las.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12800 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	528027
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Syr-pit flight. Over grace, pit controller slowed us to 210 KTS and gave us a descent all the way down to 4000 ft for the approach to runway 28R. Passing approximately 5200 ft, we received a TA. I immediately changed TCASII range to 5 mi, at which time the controller told us to 'maintain 6000 ft' and the TA switched to an RA. I immediately added maximum thrust and rotated to 15 degrees. I do not believe we went below 5100 ft MSL. The TCASII was invaluable. I believe the controller erred due to too high a workload.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC STOPPED DSNDING AND CLBING DURING DSCNT IN RESPONSE TO A TCASII RA AND APCH CTLR REQUESTED THEM TO HOLD AT AN ALT THROUGH WHICH THEY HAD JUST PASSED.

Narrative: SYR-PIT FLT. OVER GRACE, PIT CTLR SLOWED US TO 210 KTS AND GAVE US A DSCNT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 4000 FT FOR THE APCH TO RWY 28R. PASSING APPROX 5200 FT, WE RECEIVED A TA. I IMMEDIATELY CHANGED TCASII RANGE TO 5 MI, AT WHICH TIME THE CTLR TOLD US TO 'MAINTAIN 6000 FT' AND THE TA SWITCHED TO AN RA. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED MAX THRUST AND ROTATED TO 15 DEGS. I DO NOT BELIEVE WE WENT BELOW 5100 FT MSL. THE TCASII WAS INVALUABLE. I BELIEVE THE CTLR ERRED DUE TO TOO HIGH A WORKLOAD.

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.