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Near midair collision occurs when small aircraft X pilot fails to see oncoming traffic, aircraft Y, 'out of the sun.' cites visual interference and sun position.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 371456 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199706 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : csn airport : w66 |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : iad |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-38 Tomahawk |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | other : unknown |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 100 |
| ASRS Report | 371456 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | Other |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 250 vertical : 0 |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was in left seat heading approximately 240 degrees, climbing in a PA38 at 75 KIAS. A twin engine aircraft came out of the sun and made a sharp left turn to avoid me. I was one digit off dulles approach frequency 120.45, so switched up. The other aircraft reported a near miss, evasive action taken and TCASII alarm. Controller responded by stating that traffic (me) had been at 2200 ft only a moment ago and was probably playing with his altimeter. Twin engine pilot replied he could see the pilot in what he thought was a tomahawk. I then spoke up saying I was a tomahawk at 3500 ft and no I was not playing with my altimeter. Controller told me to remain clear of class B airspace and had the twin descend to 3000 ft, presumably on his way to iad. Possible causal factors: 1) left seat position. 2) sun setting -- hard for me to see and avoid to the west. Sun and haze a factor. 3) controller?
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: NMAC OCCURS WHEN SMA X PLT FAILS TO SEE ONCOMING TFC, ACFT Y, 'OUT OF THE SUN.' CITES VISUAL INTERFERENCE AND SUN POS.
Narrative: I WAS IN L SEAT HEADING APPROX 240 DEGS, CLBING IN A PA38 AT 75 KIAS. A TWIN ENG ACFT CAME OUT OF THE SUN AND MADE A SHARP L TURN TO AVOID ME. I WAS ONE DIGIT OFF DULLES APCH FREQ 120.45, SO SWITCHED UP. THE OTHER ACFT RPTED A NEAR MISS, EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN AND TCASII ALARM. CTLR RESPONDED BY STATING THAT TFC (ME) HAD BEEN AT 2200 FT ONLY A MOMENT AGO AND WAS PROBABLY PLAYING WITH HIS ALTIMETER. TWIN ENG PLT REPLIED HE COULD SEE THE PLT IN WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A TOMAHAWK. I THEN SPOKE UP SAYING I WAS A TOMAHAWK AT 3500 FT AND NO I WAS NOT PLAYING WITH MY ALTIMETER. CTLR TOLD ME TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE AND HAD THE TWIN DSND TO 3000 FT, PRESUMABLY ON HIS WAY TO IAD. POSSIBLE CAUSAL FACTORS: 1) L SEAT POS. 2) SUN SETTING -- HARD FOR ME TO SEE AND AVOID TO THE W. SUN AND HAZE A FACTOR. 3) CTLR?
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.