Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
While on vectors to final approach Runway 23R we received a vector directly towards a C-172 on the parallel Runway 23L while in and out of IMC 10 miles away. There was only 2 aircraft under ATC control at the time. We anticipated the TA and got it within a few seconds. ATC asked us to remain at 210 KTS while 90 degrees intercepting the final approach. We then slowed down to accommodate the impending TA/RA since we were definitely going to overshoot at that angle and speed. We got confused with the next ATC clearance: intercept final at 3;000 FT maintain 210 to 5 miles out. The Captain began issuing proactive instructions to avoid the TA/RA. Once the TA began more instructions to slow down and turn to not overshoot and descend on top of the C-172. ATC was asking the impossible to stay at 3;000 FT till 2 miles from the marker for separation; so that instruction didn't compute while our attention was on the TA. We began a descent on the glide slope before receiving an approach clearance. We successfully avoided the C-172; but didn't comply with ATC instructions while maneuvering. Got a phone call from ATC about the incident. The supervisor said; 'The Controller gave you no help; and that's in my report.'
[This narrative provided no additional information].
RDU Air Carrier arrival failed to comply with ATC instructions reference the intercept to final due to traffic on a parallel runway; altitude and speed.