A320 crew had less than legal separation in tpa class B.

Attributes
ACN	538279
Time
Date	200202
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon tower : slc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7300 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	538279
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On a 190 degree vector, descending to 5000 ft MSL, ATC told us a BE1900 was at our 10 O'clock position climbing to 4000 ft MSL. We responded 'looking, negative traffic.' the BE1900 responded that he had us visually, and ATC cleared him to continue climb and maintain visual separation with us. At about 5500 ft MSL and still descending, we simultaneously acquired him visually and received a TCASII TA then we got a TCASII RA to 'climb, climb.' I initiated a climb of 300 FPM then increased it to approximately 1000 FPM as we crossed over the top of the BE1900, missing him by less than a half mi and 500 ft vertically. By the time I returned to a descent, we had climbed to approximately 6200 ft MSL. I don't think the beech ever had us in sight. There were a few aircraft in our vicinity and perhaps he had a visual on a different airplane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW HAD LESS THAN LEGAL SEPARATION IN TPA CLASS B.

Narrative: ON A 190 DEG VECTOR, DSNDING TO 5000 FT MSL, ATC TOLD US A BE1900 WAS AT OUR 10 O'CLOCK POS CLBING TO 4000 FT MSL. WE RESPONDED 'LOOKING, NEGATIVE TFC.' THE BE1900 RESPONDED THAT HE HAD US VISUALLY, AND ATC CLRED HIM TO CONTINUE CLB AND MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION WITH US. AT ABOUT 5500 FT MSL AND STILL DSNDING, WE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACQUIRED HIM VISUALLY AND RECEIVED A TCASII TA THEN WE GOT A TCASII RA TO 'CLB, CLB.' I INITIATED A CLB OF 300 FPM THEN INCREASED IT TO APPROX 1000 FPM AS WE CROSSED OVER THE TOP OF THE BE1900, MISSING HIM BY LESS THAN A HALF MI AND 500 FT VERTLY. BY THE TIME I RETURNED TO A DSCNT, WE HAD CLBED TO APPROX 6200 FT MSL. I DON'T THINK THE BEECH EVER HAD US IN SIGHT. THERE WERE A FEW ACFT IN OUR VICINITY AND PERHAPS HE HAD A VISUAL ON A DIFFERENT AIRPLANE.

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.