<< >> NASA ASRS Report 774261, February 2008

An air carrier aircraft approaching sfo 1R on a visual vector had a near midair collision with VFR traffic at 4;000' 10 NM from the airport. The crew responded to a RA.

Attributes
ACN	774261
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	774261
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : relief pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	774255
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While being vectored to a visual approach to runway 1R at sfo we were on a heading of 010 degrees at 4000 ft MSL approximately 10 NM southwest of sfo. We heard ATC call out our position to civilian VFR traffic that was climbing to 3500 ft MSL and shortly afterward received a TA at 10 O'clock position and 5 mi. We did not have the traffic in sight. The TA quickly changed to an RA that gave conflicting instructions. The aural warning said 'descend; descend; now;' however; the red pitch avoidance area (rpaa) on the pfd indicated a climb command. I disconnected the autoplt and initiated a climb in accordance with the pfd indications. During the climb the relief pilot saw the traffic on our left side approximately 400 ft below and passing underneath us. I continued the climb until 'clear of conflict' was heard from the TCAS. Altitude gained during the event was approximately 400 ft. The captain (PNF) notified ATC we were climbing in response to a TCAS RA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR ACFT APCHING SFO 1R ON A VISUAL VECTOR HAD A NMAC WITH VFR TFC AT 4;000' 10 NM FROM THE ARPT. THE CREW RESPONDED TO A RA.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED TO A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 1R AT SFO WE WERE ON A HDG OF 010 DEGS AT 4000 FT MSL APPROX 10 NM SW OF SFO. WE HEARD ATC CALL OUT OUR POS TO CIVILIAN VFR TFC THAT WAS CLBING TO 3500 FT MSL AND SHORTLY AFTERWARD RECEIVED A TA AT 10 O'CLOCK POS AND 5 MI. WE DID NOT HAVE THE TFC IN SIGHT. THE TA QUICKLY CHANGED TO AN RA THAT GAVE CONFLICTING INSTRUCTIONS. THE AURAL WARNING SAID 'DSND; DSND; NOW;' HOWEVER; THE RED PITCH AVOIDANCE AREA (RPAA) ON THE PFD INDICATED A CLB COMMAND. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND INITIATED A CLB IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PFD INDICATIONS. DURING THE CLB THE RELIEF PLT SAW THE TFC ON OUR L SIDE APPROX 400 FT BELOW AND PASSING UNDERNEATH US. I CONTINUED THE CLB UNTIL 'CLR OF CONFLICT' WAS HEARD FROM THE TCAS. ALT GAINED DURING THE EVENT WAS APPROX 400 FT. THE CAPT (PNF) NOTIFIED ATC WE WERE CLBING IN RESPONSE TO A TCAS RA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.