A descending C172 has an near midair collision with a crossing GA aircraft at 10000 ft 18 NM north o...

Attributes
ACN	597414
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : drk.vortac
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc tower : prc.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 190 flight time type : 115
ASRS Report	597414
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : pax 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were IFR from grand canyon (gcn) to prescott, az (prc). I was sitting in the right front seat, while the PIC was in the front left seat. PIC was flying, I was working the radios. When ZAB handed us off to prc tower, he advised us that a part 121 flight was inbound from the south to land at prc (it is common practice at prc for GA aircraft to cancel IFR when approaching in VMC because prc tower is only allowed to handle 1 IFR aircraft at a time). On initial call-up to tower, I stated the usual ATIS, position, and intentions (to do a practice hold at drk VOR as published, then land at prc). I also canceled IFR on initial call-up. Tower advised us to change our squawk code, and report entering the hold. The descent checklist had been completed, which means beacon and landing lights were on. As we descended through 10000 ft, the PIC and I both saw the mooney at the same time at our 2 O'clock position of about 1000 ft horizontally and 50 ft vertically (we were above the mooney). We passed from his left to right, 500 ft in front of and still 50 ft higher. About 30 seconds after the near midair collision, I called prc tower and asked if they were talking to a mooney in the paulden area, they advised they were not. The PIC decided not to continue with the hold and we landed without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING C172 HAS AN NMAC WITH A XING GA ACFT AT 10000 FT 18 NM N OF PRC, AZ.

Narrative: WE WERE IFR FROM GRAND CANYON (GCN) TO PRESCOTT, AZ (PRC). I WAS SITTING IN THE R FRONT SEAT, WHILE THE PIC WAS IN THE FRONT L SEAT. PIC WAS FLYING, I WAS WORKING THE RADIOS. WHEN ZAB HANDED US OFF TO PRC TWR, HE ADVISED US THAT A PART 121 FLT WAS INBOUND FROM THE S TO LAND AT PRC (IT IS COMMON PRACTICE AT PRC FOR GA ACFT TO CANCEL IFR WHEN APCHING IN VMC BECAUSE PRC TWR IS ONLY ALLOWED TO HANDLE 1 IFR ACFT AT A TIME). ON INITIAL CALL-UP TO TWR, I STATED THE USUAL ATIS, POS, AND INTENTIONS (TO DO A PRACTICE HOLD AT DRK VOR AS PUBLISHED, THEN LAND AT PRC). I ALSO CANCELED IFR ON INITIAL CALL-UP. TWR ADVISED US TO CHANGE OUR SQUAWK CODE, AND RPT ENTERING THE HOLD. THE DSCNT CHKLIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED, WHICH MEANS BEACON AND LNDG LIGHTS WERE ON. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 10000 FT, THE PIC AND I BOTH SAW THE MOONEY AT THE SAME TIME AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK POS OF ABOUT 1000 FT HORIZLY AND 50 FT VERTLY (WE WERE ABOVE THE MOONEY). WE PASSED FROM HIS L TO R, 500 FT IN FRONT OF AND STILL 50 FT HIGHER. ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER THE NMAC, I CALLED PRC TWR AND ASKED IF THEY WERE TALKING TO A MOONEY IN THE PAULDEN AREA, THEY ADVISED THEY WERE NOT. THE PIC DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE WITH THE HOLD AND WE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.

A descending C172 has an near midair collision with a crossing GA aircraft at 10000 ft 18 NM north of prc, az.