Narrative:

We were being vectored for a visual approach to runway 16 at pensacola. At about 5000' MSL traffic was pointed out 12-1 O'clock 3000', an MTR. It was VFR and in contact with the same controller. We reported the traffic in sight at about 10 mi and we were cleared to descend to 1700' and cleared for a visual to 16. Keeping the aircraft in sight we began our descent. After descending through 3000' (the reported altitude of the MTR) we concentrated more on looking for the runway. After locating the runway and turning toward it I looked back for the MTR. It was closer than expected, crossing right to left about our altitude and descending. I delayed my turn to the runway and stopped descending (we were now at 2200 MSL). I asked the captain to confirm with ATC the altitude of the MTR but before he was able to do so it was clear that it was lower than us and would be no problem. We continued to the runway. The other pilot made some comment to approach (on UHF) which we were unable to hear, making us believe that he thought we had been too close. Although we don't feel that we came dangerously close to the other aircraft, it was closer than we would have chosen to be. Part of the problem we feel, was the lack of depth perception at night. We assumed that the other plane had remained at the reported altitude and once below that altitude we concentrated our attention elsewhere.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON VISUAL APCH TO PNS FLT CREW OF MLG MAINTAINING VISUAL SEPARATION FROM MTR AT NIGHT CAME UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO THE MTR.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 16 AT PENSACOLA. AT ABOUT 5000' MSL TFC WAS POINTED OUT 12-1 O'CLOCK 3000', AN MTR. IT WAS VFR AND IN CONTACT WITH THE SAME CTLR. WE REPORTED THE TFC IN SIGHT AT ABOUT 10 MI AND WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 1700' AND CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO 16. KEEPING THE ACFT IN SIGHT WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT. AFTER DESCENDING THROUGH 3000' (THE REPORTED ALT OF THE MTR) WE CONCENTRATED MORE ON LOOKING FOR THE RWY. AFTER LOCATING THE RWY AND TURNING TOWARD IT I LOOKED BACK FOR THE MTR. IT WAS CLOSER THAN EXPECTED, XING RIGHT TO LEFT ABOUT OUR ALT AND DESCENDING. I DELAYED MY TURN TO THE RWY AND STOPPED DESCENDING (WE WERE NOW AT 2200 MSL). I ASKED THE CAPT TO CONFIRM WITH ATC THE ALT OF THE MTR BUT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO DO SO IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS LOWER THAN US AND WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. WE CONTINUED TO THE RWY. THE OTHER PLT MADE SOME COMMENT TO APCH (ON UHF) WHICH WE WERE UNABLE TO HEAR, MAKING US BELIEVE THAT HE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN TOO CLOSE. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T FEEL THAT WE CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE OTHER ACFT, IT WAS CLOSER THAN WE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BE. PART OF THE PROBLEM WE FEEL, WAS THE LACK OF DEPTH PERCEPTION AT NIGHT. WE ASSUMED THAT THE OTHER PLANE HAD REMAINED AT THE REPORTED ALT AND ONCE BELOW THAT ALT WE CONCENTRATED OUR ATTN ELSEWHERE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.