<< >> NASA ASRS Report 120517, August 1989

Reporter in small aircraft in VFR cruise had another small aircraft come up alongside, then veer away.

Attributes
ACN	120517
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : 1ca9
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 630 flight time type : 212
ASRS Report	120517
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 75 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had flown through the VFR transition route over lax at 4500' to smo VOR. Then turned toward ventura on the 261 degree right from smo, and made an immediate descent below 4000 to 3800' to stay out of the TCA. Since there was a low ceiling below us, preventing visibility reference. I used the 240 degree right of vny VOR to ensure being clear of the TCA, then climbed to 6500' cruise. Soon after reaching cruise, 1 of my passenger alerted me to another aircraft at my 5 O'clock and closing fast. As I turned to look, the aircraft was close enough to see the smile on the other pilot's face as he looked us over, then banked sharply to his right and returned in the direction he came from. Everyone was too startled to take a picture or get his north#. We continued our flight west/O further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER IN SMA IN VFR CRUISE HAD ANOTHER SMA COME UP ALONGSIDE, THEN VEER AWAY.

Narrative: I HAD FLOWN THROUGH THE VFR TRANSITION ROUTE OVER LAX AT 4500' TO SMO VOR. THEN TURNED TOWARD VENTURA ON THE 261 DEG R FROM SMO, AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT BELOW 4000 TO 3800' TO STAY OUT OF THE TCA. SINCE THERE WAS A LOW CEILING BELOW US, PREVENTING VIS REF. I USED THE 240 DEG R OF VNY VOR TO ENSURE BEING CLR OF THE TCA, THEN CLBED TO 6500' CRUISE. SOON AFTER REACHING CRUISE, 1 OF MY PAX ALERTED ME TO ANOTHER ACFT AT MY 5 O'CLOCK AND CLOSING FAST. AS I TURNED TO LOOK, THE ACFT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE THE SMILE ON THE OTHER PLT'S FACE AS HE LOOKED US OVER, THEN BANKED SHARPLY TO HIS RIGHT AND RETURNED IN THE DIRECTION HE CAME FROM. EVERYONE WAS TOO STARTLED TO TAKE A PICTURE OR GET HIS N#. WE CONTINUED OUR FLT W/O FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.