Cessna 182 IFR, flying in and out of clouds, has near midair collision with another aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	349825
Time
Date	199610
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lbv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1060 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	349825
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on IFR flight sbound at 5000 ft in and out of clouds, ATC reported northbound (non radar contact) (presumed VFR) traffic encoder reading out 4500 ft (proper altitude for VFR and direction of flight). First reported about 5 mi, subsequently reported nearer. Traffic sighted perhaps 1/2-3/4 mi at 12 O'clock. Appeared at or slightly above our altitude. I made sharp left (east) turn, descent. Traffic passed above and to right (west). I believe VFR pilots need to ascertain (verify) transponder readout. There may have been some visual illusion in determining altitude of approaching aircraft due to lack of horizon.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CESSNA 182 IFR, FLYING IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS, HAS NMAC WITH ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE ON IFR FLT SBOUND AT 5000 FT IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS, ATC RPTED NBOUND (NON RADAR CONTACT) (PRESUMED VFR) TFC ENCODER READING OUT 4500 FT (PROPER ALT FOR VFR AND DIRECTION OF FLT). FIRST RPTED ABOUT 5 MI, SUBSEQUENTLY RPTED NEARER. TFC SIGHTED PERHAPS 1/2-3/4 MI AT 12 O'CLOCK. APPEARED AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE OUR ALT. I MADE SHARP L (E) TURN, DSCNT. TFC PASSED ABOVE AND TO R (W). I BELIEVE VFR PLTS NEED TO ASCERTAIN (VERIFY) XPONDER READOUT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME VISUAL ILLUSION IN DETERMINING ALT OF APCHING ACFT DUE TO LACK OF HORIZON.

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.