An A300 crew descending into mco received a TCAS 'RA' to descend then to climb.

Attributes
ACN	531674
Time
Date	200112
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zjx.artcc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc tower : lax.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	531674
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne critical other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 6000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Airbus departed mia for mco. After required descent to 17000 at ATC command, traffic showed up on TCAS 17200 ft, climbing. Climb arrow disappeared. TCAS went red, descended 2000 plus feet per min. All happened in about 5 seconds. Cabin disruption was noted. The aircraft was supposed to be VFR at 17500 ft MSL as reported by ATC. ATC on inquiry noted they, the VFR aircraft, had not called any ATC facility for advisories. The closure put VFR B737 with 1 NM up 400-600 feet to the left of cockpit upon passing. The VFR B737 was now at 18000 MSL. Not a legal altitude as reported by ATC. TCAS report filed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A300 CREW DSNDING INTO MCO RECEIVED A TCAS 'RA' TO DSND THEN TO CLB.

Narrative: AIRBUS DEPARTED MIA FOR MCO. AFTER REQUIRED DSCNT TO 17000 AT ATC COMMAND, TRAFFIC SHOWED UP ON TCAS 17200 FT, CLBING. CLB ARROW DISAPPEARED. TCAS WENT RED, DSNDED 2000 PLUS FEET PER MIN. ALL HAPPENED IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. CABIN DISRUPTION WAS NOTED. THE ACFT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VFR AT 17500 FT MSL AS REPORTED BY ATC. ATC ON INQUIRY NOTED THEY, THE VFR ACFT, HAD NOT CALLED ANY ATC FAC FOR ADVISORIES. THE CLOSURE PUT VFR B737 WITH 1 NM UP 400-600 FEET TO THE LEFT OF COCKPIT UPON PASSING. THE VFR B737 WAS NOW AT 18000 MSL. NOT A LEGAL ALT AS REPORTED BY ATC. TCAS REPORT FILED.

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.