C130 experiences near midair collision with T1. Believes TCAS gave inappropriate RA commands.

Attributes
ACN	803692
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mgm.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mgm.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hercules (C-130)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mgm.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Trainer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	803692
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

On radar vectors; downwind; 5 mi south of mgm; RAPCON called out traffic at 1 O'clock position approximately 5 mi. We did not see the traffic. RAPCON gave a second traffic call and we still did not have visual contact. TCAS annunciated 'traffic; traffic;' then 'climb; climb!' after approximately 500 ft of climb; I spotted a gray colored trainer very close belly-up aspect in a climb attitude at our 3 O'clock position. TCAS had directed us into a conflict. Once visual contact was made; we expeditiously descended back to 3000 ft. Reported traffic in sight and that we had responded to a TCAS warning. The fact that the trainer was painted gray inhibited visual acquisition. TCAS also directed a maneuver into the conflict. There was another C130 in the area. Perhaps the trainer mistook them for us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C130 EXPERIENCES NMAC WITH T1. BELIEVES TCAS GAVE INAPPROPRIATE RA COMMANDS.

Narrative: ON RADAR VECTORS; DOWNWIND; 5 MI S OF MGM; RAPCON CALLED OUT TFC AT 1 O'CLOCK POS APPROX 5 MI. WE DID NOT SEE THE TFC. RAPCON GAVE A SECOND TFC CALL AND WE STILL DID NOT HAVE VISUAL CONTACT. TCAS ANNUNCIATED 'TFC; TFC;' THEN 'CLB; CLB!' AFTER APPROX 500 FT OF CLB; I SPOTTED A GRAY COLORED TRAINER VERY CLOSE BELLY-UP ASPECT IN A CLB ATTITUDE AT OUR 3 O'CLOCK POS. TCAS HAD DIRECTED US INTO A CONFLICT. ONCE VISUAL CONTACT WAS MADE; WE EXPEDITIOUSLY DSNDED BACK TO 3000 FT. RPTED TFC IN SIGHT AND THAT WE HAD RESPONDED TO A TCAS WARNING. THE FACT THAT THE TRAINER WAS PAINTED GRAY INHIBITED VISUAL ACQUISITION. TCAS ALSO DIRECTED A MANEUVER INTO THE CONFLICT. THERE WAS ANOTHER C130 IN THE AREA. PERHAPS THE TRAINER MISTOOK THEM FOR US.

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.