<< >> NASA ASRS Report 163379, November 1990

Pilot of small aircraft on IFR plan had conflict with another small aircraft in vicinity of fat at 3000' MSL. Descended to 2500' and reprimanded by TRACON controller.

Attributes
ACN	163379
Time
Date	199011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fat
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 285 flight time type : 230
ASRS Report	163379
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1200 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

After given clearance to descend to and maintain 3000', I was cruising 3000'. Traffic was called, 1 O'clock position, 1 1/2 mi. Traffic in sight, I maintained 3000'. When the traffic overtook me, passing in front of me right to left, I descended to 2500' to provide more clearance. 5 mi visibility in rain showers at night, I wasn't sure what the other traffic was doing. ATC reprimanded me. After telling ATC about the traffic problem, I climbed back up to 3000'. Possibly ATC could have given progressive traffic information, especially at such close distance. Are deviations not permissible in such situations? The only other traffic I heard was ATC giving instructions for practice ILS approachs at fat.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON IFR PLAN HAD CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER SMA IN VICINITY OF FAT AT 3000' MSL. DESCENDED TO 2500' AND REPRIMANDED BY TRACON CTLR.

Narrative: AFTER GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 3000', I WAS CRUISING 3000'. TFC WAS CALLED, 1 O'CLOCK POS, 1 1/2 MI. TFC IN SIGHT, I MAINTAINED 3000'. WHEN THE TFC OVERTOOK ME, PASSING IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT TO LEFT, I DSNDED TO 2500' TO PROVIDE MORE CLRNC. 5 MI VISIBILITY IN RAIN SHOWERS AT NIGHT, I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE OTHER TFC WAS DOING. ATC REPRIMANDED ME. AFTER TELLING ATC ABOUT THE TFC PROB, I CLBED BACK UP TO 3000'. POSSIBLY ATC COULD HAVE GIVEN PROGRESSIVE TFC INFO, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH CLOSE DISTANCE. ARE DEVIATIONS NOT PERMISSIBLE IN SUCH SITUATIONS? THE ONLY OTHER TFC I HEARD WAS ATC GIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRACTICE ILS APCHS AT FAT.

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.