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MD80 flight crew at 5000 ft with ZMA experienced TCAS event involving an issued and observed VFR aircraft that started an unexpected climb.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 681241 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200512 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : rsw.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zma.artcc tower : mht.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zma.artcc |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 681241 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Miss Distance | vertical : 200 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
Narrative:
After initial descent to 5000 ft and on a heading of 130 degrees to enter a left downwind for runway at rsw; approach called unidented traffic at 1200 ft and 4500 ft. We saw traffic on the TCAS and after a min or so; I saw the aircraft; off the nose; slightly below our altitude. As we closed; we got a 'monitor altitude' call from the TCAS. The aircraft then pulled up into us; the TCAS ordered a fairly radical climb which the first officer executed. The last number I saw on the TCAS was 200 ft and closing. We leveled the aircraft at 6000 ft; and reported the encounter to ATC. After landing; I called ATC; and they informed me that the aircraft was legal in everything he did; since it was outside united stated airspace. Their suggestion was that ATC should give a vector when they see the encounter developing; and if that doesn't happen; then we should ask for an immediate vector. Apparently it is a pretty frequent occurrence in the rsw area.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 FLT CREW AT 5000 FT WITH ZMA EXPERIENCED TCAS EVENT INVOLVING AN ISSUED AND OBSERVED VFR ACFT THAT STARTED AN UNEXPECTED CLB.
Narrative: AFTER INITIAL DSCNT TO 5000 FT AND ON A HDG OF 130 DEGS TO ENTER A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY AT RSW; APCH CALLED UNIDENTED TFC AT 1200 FT AND 4500 FT. WE SAW TFC ON THE TCAS AND AFTER A MIN OR SO; I SAW THE ACFT; OFF THE NOSE; SLIGHTLY BELOW OUR ALT. AS WE CLOSED; WE GOT A 'MONITOR ALT' CALL FROM THE TCAS. THE ACFT THEN PULLED UP INTO US; THE TCAS ORDERED A FAIRLY RADICAL CLB WHICH THE FO EXECUTED. THE LAST NUMBER I SAW ON THE TCAS WAS 200 FT AND CLOSING. WE LEVELED THE ACFT AT 6000 FT; AND RPTED THE ENCOUNTER TO ATC. AFTER LNDG; I CALLED ATC; AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ACFT WAS LEGAL IN EVERYTHING HE DID; SINCE IT WAS OUTSIDE UNITED STATED AIRSPACE. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS THAT ATC SHOULD GIVE A VECTOR WHEN THEY SEE THE ENCOUNTER DEVELOPING; AND IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN; THEN WE SHOULD ASK FOR AN IMMEDIATE VECTOR. APPARENTLY IT IS A PRETTY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THE RSW AREA.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.