PA31 pilot under ARTCC control initiates maneuver to avoid visually acquired traffic.

Attributes
ACN	543628
Time
Date	200204
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : roa.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	543628
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were at 9000 ft and requested lower. ZTL told us to descend and maintain 7000 ft MSL. As we passed through 8500 ft MSL, we were on an approximately 070 degree heading. I (the first officer) noticed a twin engine (partenavia) closing on us 65-70 degrees off the nose of a northwest heading at our altitude. The captain initiated an emergency energy climb in excess of 1500 FPM to avoid the aircraft. When asked, ATC replied that he only saw a VFR aircraft behind us. The partenavia was at our 7-8 O'clock position. After the emergency maneuver, we would have likely collided without the emergency climb. We were never advised of any traffic from ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 PLT UNDER ARTCC CTL INITIATES MANEUVER TO AVOID VISUALLY ACQUIRED TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE AT 9000 FT AND REQUESTED LOWER. ZTL TOLD US TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 7000 FT MSL. AS WE PASSED THROUGH 8500 FT MSL, WE WERE ON AN APPROX 070 DEG HDG. I (THE FO) NOTICED A TWIN ENG (PARTENAVIA) CLOSING ON US 65-70 DEGS OFF THE NOSE OF A NW HDG AT OUR ALT. THE CAPT INITIATED AN EMER ENERGY CLB IN EXCESS OF 1500 FPM TO AVOID THE ACFT. WHEN ASKED, ATC REPLIED THAT HE ONLY SAW A VFR ACFT BEHIND US. THE PARTENAVIA WAS AT OUR 7-8 O'CLOCK POS. AFTER THE EMER MANEUVER, WE WOULD HAVE LIKELY COLLIDED WITHOUT THE EMER CLB. WE WERE NEVER ADVISED OF ANY TFC FROM ATC.

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.