Near midair collision between a small aircraft transitioning class D airspace and a small aircraft t...

Attributes
ACN	312623
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgx airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cgx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 364 flight time type : 164
ASRS Report	312623
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

WX was hazy with visibility ranging from 2-4 mi. Had executed a 180 degree turn about 7 mi south of waukegan because flight visibility dropped to 0 mi (quickly and suddenly became IMC). Noticed clouds had closed in behind me. Now headed south along lakeshore of north chicago. Called cgx for clearance to transit class D and head toward mdw. Initially, while going north, cgx stated banner tow were in area. On return trip south, did not hear any mention of banner tows (don't know if cgx controllers gave warning or not). With lowered visibility, did not see banner towing plane until banner passed below me about 300 ft. Banner tow asked cgx if notification had been issued about banner tow. Cgx asked if I had seen banner. 5 mi visibility or less is not much when closing on an object at almost 300 mph. 2 classic sits here: high-wing below, low wing above, and approaching object getting larger in size but not moving across vision. Under today's rules, I can not think of any remedy besides increased vigilance. Perhaps distinctive lighting (such as the pulsar system) would help for towing planes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BTWN A SMA TRANSITIONING CLASS D AIRSPACE AND A SMA TOWING A BANNER.

Narrative: WX WAS HAZY WITH VISIBILITY RANGING FROM 2-4 MI. HAD EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN ABOUT 7 MI S OF WAUKEGAN BECAUSE FLT VISIBILITY DROPPED TO 0 MI (QUICKLY AND SUDDENLY BECAME IMC). NOTICED CLOUDS HAD CLOSED IN BEHIND ME. NOW HEADED S ALONG LAKESHORE OF N CHICAGO. CALLED CGX FOR CLRNC TO TRANSIT CLASS D AND HEAD TOWARD MDW. INITIALLY, WHILE GOING N, CGX STATED BANNER TOW WERE IN AREA. ON RETURN TRIP S, DID NOT HEAR ANY MENTION OF BANNER TOWS (DON'T KNOW IF CGX CTLRS GAVE WARNING OR NOT). WITH LOWERED VISIBILITY, DID NOT SEE BANNER TOWING PLANE UNTIL BANNER PASSED BELOW ME ABOUT 300 FT. BANNER TOW ASKED CGX IF NOTIFICATION HAD BEEN ISSUED ABOUT BANNER TOW. CGX ASKED IF I HAD SEEN BANNER. 5 MI VISIBILITY OR LESS IS NOT MUCH WHEN CLOSING ON AN OBJECT AT ALMOST 300 MPH. 2 CLASSIC SITS HERE: HIGH-WING BELOW, LOW WING ABOVE, AND APCHING OBJECT GETTING LARGER IN SIZE BUT NOT MOVING ACROSS VISION. UNDER TODAY'S RULES, I CAN NOT THINK OF ANY REMEDY BESIDES INCREASED VIGILANCE. PERHAPS DISTINCTIVE LIGHTING (SUCH AS THE PULSAR SYS) WOULD HELP FOR TOWING PLANES.

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.

Near midair collision between a small aircraft transitioning class D airspace and a small aircraft towing a banner.