B737 landing ewr experienced TCASII RA with unknown traffic.

Attributes
ACN	585274
Time
Date	200306
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 6700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	585274
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

TCASII RA: while descending through 7000 ft MSL with ewr approach control, frequency 128.55 on approximately a 070 degree heading, we received a TCASII RA with instructions to climb. Target was seen on TCASII less than 1 mi at 2-3 O'clock position, 700 ft MSL below us. I advised the controller that we were climbing with an RA. He said that traffic was no factor. I wanted to talk to him by phone, but he refused to give me a phone number saying that it was inappropriate on an unsecure frequency. He advised us to call the tower on the ground. I was able to get the number from their unsecure line and spoke to a supervisor on duty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 LNDG EWR EXPERIENCED TCASII RA WITH UNKNOWN TFC.

Narrative: TCASII RA: WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 7000 FT MSL WITH EWR APCH CTL, FREQ 128.55 ON APPROX A 070 DEG HDG, WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB. TARGET WAS SEEN ON TCASII LESS THAN 1 MI AT 2-3 O'CLOCK POS, 700 FT MSL BELOW US. I ADVISED THE CTLR THAT WE WERE CLBING WITH AN RA. HE SAID THAT TFC WAS NO FACTOR. I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM BY PHONE, BUT HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER SAYING THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE ON AN UNSECURE FREQ. HE ADVISED US TO CALL THE TWR ON THE GND. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER FROM THEIR UNSECURE LINE AND SPOKE TO A SUPVR ON DUTY.

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.