Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight from cmh en route to bhm level at 6000' along V49. I was being handled by ZID while flying an small aircraft. Visibility was fairly good, but at most it was 5 mi (flight visibility). I was scanning the area ahead of my aircraft as I usually do, but the sun was about my 9-10 O'clock and above. ZID was very busy on the frequency. It took me 3 attempts to reach him after I was handed off from standiford approach control. At time of the incident I was exactly 6010' MSL. Suddenly, in less time than it takes to blink an eye, an small aircraft B or about that model was right below me. He was between my left wing tip and left engine cowling in my field of view. He was flying approximately 340 degrees. My course was 214. I pointed out to center that I just missed the aircraft. (I didn't have time to react.) he said I had traffic at 6 O'clock and a mi which I knew. He handed me off to ZME shortly thereafter. ZID supervisor then asked me via ZME if I was going to file a report. I said probably not. I did ask them to track the plane. As you can imagine, this scenario is a pilot's worst nightmare had we collided. The aircraft was VFR at an IFR altitude west/O altitude transponder. A direct violation of the regulations. Center was overworked and I feel altitude reporting xponders should be mandatory on all aircraft in all airspace. More center controllers may also help to alleviate the workload on these controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT CARGO CARRIER HAD NMAC WITH SMA ACFT AT 6000' MSL. SMA APPARENTLY NON TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT FROM CMH ENRTE TO BHM LEVEL AT 6000' ALONG V49. I WAS BEING HANDLED BY ZID WHILE FLYING AN SMA. VISIBILITY WAS FAIRLY GOOD, BUT AT MOST IT WAS 5 MI (FLT VISIBILITY). I WAS SCANNING THE AREA AHEAD OF MY ACFT AS I USUALLY DO, BUT THE SUN WAS ABOUT MY 9-10 O'CLOCK AND ABOVE. ZID WAS VERY BUSY ON THE FREQ. IT TOOK ME 3 ATTEMPTS TO REACH HIM AFTER I WAS HANDED OFF FROM STANDIFORD APCH CTL. AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS EXACTLY 6010' MSL. SUDDENLY, IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO BLINK AN EYE, AN SMA B OR ABOUT THAT MODEL WAS RIGHT BELOW ME. HE WAS BTWN MY LEFT WING TIP AND LEFT ENG COWLING IN MY FIELD OF VIEW. HE WAS FLYING APPROX 340 DEGS. MY COURSE WAS 214. I POINTED OUT TO CENTER THAT I JUST MISSED THE ACFT. (I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REACT.) HE SAID I HAD TFC AT 6 O'CLOCK AND A MI WHICH I KNEW. HE HANDED ME OFF TO ZME SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ZID SUPVR THEN ASKED ME VIA ZME IF I WAS GOING TO FILE A RPT. I SAID PROBABLY NOT. I DID ASK THEM TO TRACK THE PLANE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS SCENARIO IS A PLT'S WORST NIGHTMARE HAD WE COLLIDED. THE ACFT WAS VFR AT AN IFR ALT W/O ALT XPONDER. A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE REGS. CENTER WAS OVERWORKED AND I FEEL ALT RPTING XPONDERS SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON ALL ACFT IN ALL AIRSPACE. MORE CENTER CTLRS MAY ALSO HELP TO ALLEVIATE THE WORKLOAD ON THESE CTLRS.

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.