Close proximity of 2 IFR aircraft under ATC control.

Attributes
ACN	288825
Time
Date	199411
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fyu
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zan
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 4200
ASRS Report	288825
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 900 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight from fai to fyu via V438. I had filed for 9000 ft. Shortly after reaching 9000 ft, center advised me to climb to 10000 ft. At approximately 60 DME from fyu I requested a lower altitude. At that point center cleared me to 9000 ft and I descended to that altitude and leveled off. At approximately 45-50 DME from fyu, center advised me that I had opposite direction traffic at 12 O'clock, 3 mi, and at 9000 ft. I had visual contact with that aircraft at about 1 mi. At that time I advised center that I had the traffic in sight. When I released the microphone button, center was advising the other aircraft to descend to 8000 ft. The flight conditions at this time were VFR on top of an undercast with tops at approximately 8000 ft. Traffic passed approximately 300 yards from my aircraft at the same altitude. I continued on to fyu and was able to cancel my IFR flight in VFR conditions without further incident. At the time of my IFR cancellation, I advised center and they responded, 'roger, squawk 1200 and we'll see you in a few days.' no further mention was made of the incident on center frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX OF 2 IFR ACFT UNDER ATC CTL.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT FROM FAI TO FYU VIA V438. I HAD FILED FOR 9000 FT. SHORTLY AFTER REACHING 9000 FT, CTR ADVISED ME TO CLB TO 10000 FT. AT APPROX 60 DME FROM FYU I REQUESTED A LOWER ALT. AT THAT POINT CTR CLRED ME TO 9000 FT AND I DSNDED TO THAT ALT AND LEVELED OFF. AT APPROX 45-50 DME FROM FYU, CTR ADVISED ME THAT I HAD OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK, 3 MI, AND AT 9000 FT. I HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THAT ACFT AT ABOUT 1 MI. AT THAT TIME I ADVISED CTR THAT I HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. WHEN I RELEASED THE MIKE BUTTON, CTR WAS ADVISING THE OTHER ACFT TO DSND TO 8000 FT. THE FLT CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME WERE VFR ON TOP OF AN UNDERCAST WITH TOPS AT APPROX 8000 FT. TFC PASSED APPROX 300 YARDS FROM MY ACFT AT THE SAME ALT. I CONTINUED ON TO FYU AND WAS ABLE TO CANCEL MY IFR FLT IN VFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF MY IFR CANCELLATION, I ADVISED CTR AND THEY RESPONDED, 'ROGER, SQUAWK 1200 AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS.' NO FURTHER MENTION WAS MADE OF THE INCIDENT ON CTR FREQ.

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.