Narrative:

On descent into tpa from 9000 ft to 5000 ft; we were told by ATC to 'stop descent and turn left heading 090 degrees.' at which point we received a TA and saw a B737 in a climbing left turn towards the west. Tpa was landing/departing runway 36L. We were descending for the downwind on vectors from approach. The controller was working both arrs and departures and was busy. I feel that was the sole factor in us receiving the TA. I am starting to see it more and more where controllers are working multiple frequencys; and are very busy. I believe the controller shortage may be here; and will probably get a lot worse!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO OF B757 BELIEVES LOSS OF SEPARATION AND RESULTING TCAS RA WITH B737 DURING ARR TO TPA WAS THE RESULT OF TRACON CTLR WORKLOAD WORKING BOTH ARRS AND DEPS.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO TPA FROM 9000 FT TO 5000 FT; WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO 'STOP DSCNT AND TURN L HDG 090 DEGS.' AT WHICH POINT WE RECEIVED A TA AND SAW A B737 IN A CLBING L TURN TOWARDS THE W. TPA WAS LNDG/DEPARTING RWY 36L. WE WERE DSNDING FOR THE DOWNWIND ON VECTORS FROM APCH. THE CTLR WAS WORKING BOTH ARRS AND DEPS AND WAS BUSY. I FEEL THAT WAS THE SOLE FACTOR IN US RECEIVING THE TA. I AM STARTING TO SEE IT MORE AND MORE WHERE CTLRS ARE WORKING MULTIPLE FREQS; AND ARE VERY BUSY. I BELIEVE THE CTLR SHORTAGE MAY BE HERE; AND WILL PROBABLY GET A LOT WORSE!

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.