Descending air carrier large transport had close call with VFR aircraft, opposite direction in level...

Attributes
ACN	98000
Time
Date	198811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11200 msl bound upper : 11500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 11000
ASRS Report	98000
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were cleared to las via the runway 25 localizer and to descend and maintain 11000'. At about 11200' the controller called and said 'large transport X, traffic alert 11-12 O'clock, 1/2 mi, eastbound at 11500'.' I looked up and only saw a flash go by my window. The first officer said he also, just saw the aircraft and he estimated 200' vertical/500' horizontal sep. The controller said no more, nor did we. He then handed us off to las approach and the remainder of the flight was uneventful. I only wonder why, if the VFR traffic was in radar contact, it wasn't pointed out sooner. I believe TCAS would have been a great help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DESCENDING ACR LGT HAD CLOSE CALL WITH VFR ACFT, OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN LEVEL FLT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO LAS VIA THE RWY 25 LOC AND TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 11000'. AT ABOUT 11200' THE CTLR CALLED AND SAID 'LGT X, TFC ALERT 11-12 O'CLOCK, 1/2 MI, EBND AT 11500'.' I LOOKED UP AND ONLY SAW A FLASH GO BY MY WINDOW. THE F/O SAID HE ALSO, JUST SAW THE ACFT AND HE ESTIMATED 200' VERT/500' HORIZ SEP. THE CTLR SAID NO MORE, NOR DID WE. HE THEN HANDED US OFF TO LAS APCH AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I ONLY WONDER WHY, IF THE VFR TFC WAS IN RADAR CONTACT, IT WASN'T POINTED OUT SOONER. I BELIEVE TCAS WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.

Descending air carrier large transport had close call with VFR aircraft, opposite direction in level flight.