Narrative:

On flight from mke to cwa, we were talking with ZMP. We were given a descent at discretion from 14000 ft to 4000 ft. ATC pointed out VFR traffic at 8700 ft, heading eastbound. I stopped descending at 9000 ft to stay above traffic. ATC never gave us a vector. So, finally when traffic was about 1 mi away, we requested a turn from ATC. We finally saw traffic off the right wing and continued flight to destination.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE1900D CAPT RPTED THAT ZMP GAVE AMBIGUOUS INSTRUCTIONS WHEN POINTING OUT TFC NEAR STE, CAUSING THEM TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM MKE TO CWA, WE WERE TALKING WITH ZMP. WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT AT DISCRETION FROM 14000 FT TO 4000 FT. ATC POINTED OUT VFR TFC AT 8700 FT, HDG EBOUND. I STOPPED DSNDING AT 9000 FT TO STAY ABOVE TFC. ATC NEVER GAVE US A VECTOR. SO, FINALLY WHEN TFC WAS ABOUT 1 MI AWAY, WE REQUESTED A TURN FROM ATC. WE FINALLY SAW TFC OFF THE R WING AND CONTINUED FLT TO DEST.

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.