Narrative:

I was flying VFR from bqu to sac on V6 at 12500 ft. I contacted reno approach 20 mi northeast on 119.2 and requested flight following. They were unable to see my mode C altitude readout. I advised I would be transiting the area at 12500 ft MSL en route to sac. The controller switched me to 126.3 and changed codes to ZOA. I looked off my left wing to see the md-80 climbing out from takeoff at rno, directly toward me. I was still level at 12500 ft MSL. Before I could react, he increased his climb and went directly over me. My plane (a mooney 20C) was buffeted by the turbulence, and I could hear his engines. I believe we were within 500 ft of each other. The controller did not mention anything about the occurrence and handed me off to ZOA. I believe the controller 'lost' me during the change of transponder codes and because my mode C was not working, even thought I made my route of flight and altitude clear to him.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA HAD AN NMAC WITH AN MLG.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR FROM BQU TO SAC ON V6 AT 12500 FT. I CONTACTED RENO APCH 20 MI NE ON 119.2 AND REQUESTED FLT FOLLOWING. THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE MY MODE C ALT READOUT. I ADVISED I WOULD BE TRANSITING THE AREA AT 12500 FT MSL ENRTE TO SAC. THE CTLR SWITCHED ME TO 126.3 AND CHANGED CODES TO ZOA. I LOOKED OFF MY L WING TO SEE THE MD-80 CLBING OUT FROM TKOF AT RNO, DIRECTLY TOWARD ME. I WAS STILL LEVEL AT 12500 FT MSL. BEFORE I COULD REACT, HE INCREASED HIS CLB AND WENT DIRECTLY OVER ME. MY PLANE (A MOONEY 20C) WAS BUFFETED BY THE TURB, AND I COULD HEAR HIS ENGS. I BELIEVE WE WERE WITHIN 500 FT OF EACH OTHER. THE CTLR DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE OCCURRENCE AND HANDED ME OFF TO ZOA. I BELIEVE THE CTLR 'LOST' ME DURING THE CHANGE OF XPONDER CODES AND BECAUSE MY MODE C WAS NOT WORKING, EVEN THOUGHT I MADE MY RTE OF FLT AND ALT CLR TO HIM.

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.