B737-700 flight crew has a TCAS RA during descent on the motif 3 arrival to mdw.

Attributes
ACN	704727
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : motif
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 10600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : motif
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 223 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	704727
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 49 flight time type : 49
ASRS Report	704493
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Approaching motif on the motif 3 arrival we were cleared to descend from 11000 ft to 10000 ft. Approaching 10600 ft we got an RA and I told the PF to climb. He disconnected the autoplt and climbed to 11000 ft when the RA stopped. I told ZAU we had an RA and were climbing. There was an aircraft on the TCAS display right below us. After landing we were asked to call center. When I called them they were grateful we saved them from a mistake and thanked us for the help. We were thankful we didn't have a midair or that we made a mistake in clrncs. We could have looked at the TCAS before we descended and queried the controller. Center made a mistake probably by not looking at their radar and just issuing a rote descent call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 FLT CREW HAS A TCAS RA DURING DSCNT ON THE MOTIF 3 ARR TO MDW.

Narrative: APCHING MOTIF ON THE MOTIF 3 ARR WE WERE CLRED TO DSND FROM 11000 FT TO 10000 FT. APCHING 10600 FT WE GOT AN RA AND I TOLD THE PF TO CLB. HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND CLBED TO 11000 FT WHEN THE RA STOPPED. I TOLD ZAU WE HAD AN RA AND WERE CLBING. THERE WAS AN ACFT ON THE TCAS DISPLAY RIGHT BELOW US. AFTER LNDG WE WERE ASKED TO CALL CTR. WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY WERE GRATEFUL WE SAVED THEM FROM A MISTAKE AND THANKED US FOR THE HELP. WE WERE THANKFUL WE DIDN'T HAVE A MIDAIR OR THAT WE MADE A MISTAKE IN CLRNCS. WE COULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE TCAS BEFORE WE DSNDED AND QUERIED THE CTLR. CTR MADE A MISTAKE PROBABLY BY NOT LOOKING AT THEIR RADAR AND JUST ISSUING A ROTE DSCNT CALL.

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.