Pilot of small aircraft observed traffic--took evasive action.

Attributes
ACN	126078
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sey
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 270
ASRS Report	126078
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ATC failed to report oncoming traffic at my altitude. Passenger noticed traffic closing on collision course, I deviated by immediate 90 degree turn to south. ATC reported coverage to be shoddy in area. I retorted unacceptable answer. ATC later acknowledged controller was a trnee being watched by a second person. I responded if trainer was too busy to watch screen, he should never have assigned a squawk code. Ocean approach was the controling agency, frequency 133.85. Traffic probably was at wrong (hemispherical rule) altitude for his/her w-erly heading.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA OBSERVED TRAFFIC--TOOK EVASIVE ACTION.

Narrative: ATC FAILED TO RPT ONCOMING TFC AT MY ALT. PAX NOTICED TFC CLOSING ON COLLISION COURSE, I DEVIATED BY IMMEDIATE 90 DEG TURN TO S. ATC RPTED COVERAGE TO BE SHODDY IN AREA. I RETORTED UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER. ATC LATER ACKNOWLEDGED CTLR WAS A TRNEE BEING WATCHED BY A SECOND PERSON. I RESPONDED IF TRAINER WAS TOO BUSY TO WATCH SCREEN, HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE ASSIGNED A SQUAWK CODE. OCEAN APCH WAS THE CTLING AGENCY, FREQ 133.85. TFC PROBABLY WAS AT WRONG (HEMISPHERICAL RULE) ALT FOR HIS/HER W-ERLY HDG.

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.