THE RPTR CAPT IN THE B737-300 EXPERIENCED A TCASII RA GENERATED BY A KC135 TANKER THE CTLR HAD POINTED OUT. THE RPTR ACCOMPLISHED AN EVASIVE DSCNT. WHEN THE CONFLICT CLRED THE RPTR RESUMED THE APCH FOR THE LNDG.

Date: 1996-02 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng · Phase: approach

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|conflict-nmac|deviation-altitude-overshoot|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

THE RPTR CAPT IN THE B737-300 EXPERIENCED A TCASII RA GENERATED BY A KC135 TANKER THE CTLR HAD POINTED OUT. THE RPTR ACCOMPLISHED AN EVASIVE DSCNT. WHEN THE CONFLICT CLRED THE RPTR RESUMED THE APCH FOR THE LNDG.

Narrative

CAPT WAS THE PF AND FO WAS THE PNF. FLT X ENTERED THE PHX AREA ON THE ARLIN 9 ARR. THE APCH CTLR INITIATED A RADAR VECTOR FOR A DOWNWIND ENTRY INTO THE PHX AREA APPROX BTWN ALEYS AND TUKEE INTXNS. AFTER AN EASTERLY HDG; HE TURNED FLT X TO A N HDG AND CLRED US TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. AT THAT POINT HE POINTED OUT TFC COMING FROM THE N ON A SOUTHERLY HDG. HE ADVISED US THAT THE TFC WAS A KC135 AND THAT HE WOULD BE RESTR ABOVE US AT 4000 FT. THE CTLR ALSO REQUESTED THAT WE REDUCE OUR SPD TO FOLLOW A B757 (WE WERE 4 MI BEHIND). AT THIS POINT OF TIME; THE POS OF THE ACFT WERE THE FOLLOWING: THE B757 WAS ON (APPROX) 5-8 MI FINAL FOR RWY 26R PHX; WE WERE ON (APPROX) 12 MI L BASE ENTRY TO RWY 26R PHX; AND THE KC135 WAS 11-15 MI NE OF PHX. SHORTLY LATER; WE WERE VECTORED AGAIN TO JOIN THE RWY 26R FINAL APCH COURSE; AT WHICH TIME WE BEGAN TO PICK UP THE KC135 ON TCASII. MY ACFT SPD AND CONFIGN WAS THAT OF 150 KTS; FLAPS 15 DEGS; GEAR DOWN; AUTOPLT ENGAGED; AND TRACKING IN ON THE LOC. OUR TCASII DISPLAYED THAT KC135 TFC HAD INITIATED A DSCNT; THAT WE CONFIRMED VISUALLY. I REMEMBER COMMENTING TO MY FO SEVERAL TIMES THAT 'HE IS DSNDING DOWN ONTO US.' AT THAT POINT; I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLES AND PREPARED TO CHANGE COURSE AND ALT. I INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE COURSE/ALT CHANGE JUST PRIOR TO THE AURAL TCASII ADVISORIES. I POSITIONED THE ACFT FROM A NORMAL APCH ATTITUDE TO A 10-15 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH PWR OFF. I HAD A GOOD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN; THE ARPT TFC AREA; AND THE INBOUND KC135 AT ALL TIMES. THE LAST READOUT ON THE TCASII THAT I REMEMBERED WITH REF TO THE KC135 WAS THAT HE WAS MOVING DOWNWARD WITH 400 FT SEPARATION. AFTER THE KC135 PASSED OVER TOP OF US; I CLB TOWARDS THE GS PATH AND PROCEEDED TO LAND ON RWY 26R. ON SHORT FINAL; I ADVISED PHX TWR OF THE SIT. AFTER LNDG; I REQUESTED THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE TWR.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.