Flight Crew Last 90 Days 186; Flight Crew Total 19443; Flight Crew Type 17237
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
ATC called traffic with a 20 degree left turn to avoid; traffic was 400 feet below. In the turn we got a Traffic Advisory (TA) followed by a Resolution Advisory (RA) to descend. Traffic showed 100 feet below. Made visual contact; passed within 100 feet vertical and 50 yards lateral. We had descended to about 4;300 feet; ATC instructed us to climb back to 5;000 feet. We complied and reported the RA to the controller; which at this point was a different controller.
The Captain was able to obtain visual contact with the Cessna slightly to the right of our nose and almost the same altitude as we were. I continued to follow the Resolution Advisory (RA) descending as we passed what looked like a Cessna off our right wing that seemed to be about 150 feet away and 100 feet above. ATC called us to climb to and maintain 5;000 feet. The Captain told them we had responded to an RA and that we were clear of the traffic and will climb back to 5;000 feet.
B737 flight crew reported an NMAC with a light aircraft on arrival into EWR.