Close proximity two GA small aircraft aircraft near phl TCA.

Attributes
ACN	124526
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 195 flight time type : 89
ASRS Report	124526
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Phl approach issued a 'traffic alert' advising of traffic closing from 6 mi and recommended I change my altitude up or down by 500'. I advised approach that I would enter a left turn and descend to 3000 MSL. I dove to 2900 MSL approaching within 5 KTS of vne before leveling off at 3000 MSL. The traffic was spotted 500' above my new altitude, ahead and well to the right of my position. We would have passed well clear if both planes had held course. However, the target made a sharp right descending turn and leveled off at 3000 MSL head-on at 1-1 1/2 mi. I made an s-turn to the right and both planes passed approximately 300' to the left of each other. The other plane was a low fixed wing small aircraft. Approach control should have issued specific evasive action instructions to each plane instead of offering options with only 1 1/2 mins before collision. Ie, 1 up, the other down. The other pilot should have paid attention and announced his intentions. Using his eyeballs might have helped. I should have throttled all the way back to idle to avoid approaching so close to vne and to reduce the closing rate during the descent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX TWO GA SMA ACFT NEAR PHL TCA.

Narrative: PHL APCH ISSUED A 'TFC ALERT' ADVISING OF TFC CLOSING FROM 6 MI AND RECOMMENDED I CHANGE MY ALT UP OR DOWN BY 500'. I ADVISED APCH THAT I WOULD ENTER A LEFT TURN AND DSND TO 3000 MSL. I DOVE TO 2900 MSL APCHING WITHIN 5 KTS OF VNE BEFORE LEVELING OFF AT 3000 MSL. THE TFC WAS SPOTTED 500' ABOVE MY NEW ALT, AHEAD AND WELL TO THE RIGHT OF MY POSITION. WE WOULD HAVE PASSED WELL CLEAR IF BOTH PLANES HAD HELD COURSE. HOWEVER, THE TARGET MADE A SHARP RIGHT DESCENDING TURN AND LEVELED OFF AT 3000 MSL HEAD-ON AT 1-1 1/2 MI. I MADE AN S-TURN TO THE RIGHT AND BOTH PLANES PASSED APPROX 300' TO THE LEFT OF EACH OTHER. THE OTHER PLANE WAS A LOW FIXED WING SMA. APCH CTL SHOULD HAVE ISSUED SPECIFIC EVASIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS TO EACH PLANE INSTEAD OF OFFERING OPTIONS WITH ONLY 1 1/2 MINS BEFORE COLLISION. IE, 1 UP, THE OTHER DOWN. THE OTHER PLT SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTN AND ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS. USING HIS EYEBALLS MIGHT HAVE HELPED. I SHOULD HAVE THROTTLED ALL THE WAY BACK TO IDLE TO AVOID APCHING SO CLOSE TO VNE AND TO REDUCE THE CLOSING RATE DURING THE DSCNT.

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.