B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 226
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
Inbound to DAL; we were given; 'direct NITER; maintain 4;000; jet traffic 11 o'clock; 4;500 FT; traffic one o'clock; Cessna 172 at 3;500 FT.' After passing the other jet; we were asked if we saw the field and replied we did. We were then cleared; '...no further left than 070; join the final at or outside NITER; cleared visual 13L.' We acknowledged and continued direct NITER. The Controller replied; 'Cessna traffic one o'clock; three miles has you in sight remaining south of your course.' The First Officer called for landing gear down and flaps 15; and began a descent out of four. We immediately received a RA with a descend command. I looked at the attitude indicator and we were already pitched down out of the red danger zone. The Controller called traffic one o'clock 1/4 mile. The RA had stopped and we saw the traffic off our right. We continued the approach and landed uneventfully.
In hindsight; I should have remained at 4;000 FT until either we acquired the Skyhawk visually; or ATC ensured us we were clear.
A B737-700 flight crew responded to a TCAS RA while descending into DAL.