A cessna 172 pilot had a near miss with an A10 near nkt.

Attributes
ACN	443462
Time
Date	199907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ewm.vortac
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nkt.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nkt.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Thunderbolt II (Warthog A-10)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : descent cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 7 flight time total : 69 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	443462
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Elected to fly VFR leg from mrh to ewn. Departure was east and cruise altitude was 2000 ft due visibility. Upon radio contact ATC issued squawk code and requested we remain clear of class D airspace around MCAS cherry point. Turned north to go around the class D and climbed to 2500 ft while crossing nevse river estuary. Reported this to ATC, who advised of 2 A10 to the north, not a factor. These aircraft were therefore on line of boundary with R-5306A. As we began a slow course change to the west, with speed of 100 KTS saw an A10 descending to our altitude at relatively higher speed. Managed to turn left and descend while A10 turned to his left and climbed. Reported A10 proximity to ATC, and somewhat shaken, were given vectors to new bern, keeping us clear of class D and R-5306A. Conclusion: despite haze, a better option would have been to climb over the class D airspace instead of around. Basic radar service does not provide separation, and as demonstrated, can miss giving a vital warning. Strobes, beacon and landing light in my aircraft were on. This obviously helped, as A10 was moving very quickly and avoided our C172. The A10 was gray color with no visible lights.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 172 PLT HAD A NEAR MISS WITH AN A10 NEAR NKT.

Narrative: ELECTED TO FLY VFR LEG FROM MRH TO EWN. DEP WAS E AND CRUISE ALT WAS 2000 FT DUE VISIBILITY. UPON RADIO CONTACT ATC ISSUED SQUAWK CODE AND REQUESTED WE REMAIN CLR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE AROUND MCAS CHERRY POINT. TURNED N TO GO AROUND THE CLASS D AND CLBED TO 2500 FT WHILE XING NEVSE RIVER ESTUARY. RPTED THIS TO ATC, WHO ADVISED OF 2 A10 TO THE N, NOT A FACTOR. THESE ACFT WERE THEREFORE ON LINE OF BOUNDARY WITH R-5306A. AS WE BEGAN A SLOW COURSE CHANGE TO THE W, WITH SPD OF 100 KTS SAW AN A10 DSNDING TO OUR ALT AT RELATIVELY HIGHER SPD. MANAGED TO TURN L AND DSND WHILE A10 TURNED TO HIS L AND CLBED. RPTED A10 PROX TO ATC, AND SOMEWHAT SHAKEN, WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO NEW BERN, KEEPING US CLR OF CLASS D AND R-5306A. CONCLUSION: DESPITE HAZE, A BETTER OPTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO CLB OVER THE CLASS D AIRSPACE INSTEAD OF AROUND. BASIC RADAR SVC DOES NOT PROVIDE SEPARATION, AND AS DEMONSTRATED, CAN MISS GIVING A VITAL WARNING. STROBES, BEACON AND LNDG LIGHT IN MY ACFT WERE ON. THIS OBVIOUSLY HELPED, AS A10 WAS MOVING VERY QUICKLY AND AVOIDED OUR C172. THE A10 WAS GRAY COLOR WITH NO VISIBLE LIGHTS.

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.