Narrative:

We (myself and pilot friend) took off from crg runway 14 on an IFR flight plan. The WX was VFR but very hazy. We were directed to turn right to 280 degrees, climb to 2000 ft and contact jax approach, which we did. On contacting approach, we were told to look for traffic at 12 O'clock position and report in sight. We both started looking and reported that the traffic was not in sight. We were told that the traffic was 12 O'clock position at 1 mi, 1300 ft, which was our current altitude, although we were climbing to 2000 ft. We still did not see the traffic and notified approach a third time that the traffic was still not in sight. As the controller was telling us where the aircraft was, we finally saw it as it passed directly below us (about 200 ft or less below). We notified the controller that the traffic was in sight and not a factor. We were then cleared to 6000 ft on course. Knowing that hindsight is 20/20, we should have asked for vectors away from the traffic, especially since it was heading for us at the same altitude. Also, being that we were on an IFR flight plan, the controller should have vectored us away from the traffic anyway. The lesson learned on this flight: just because you're on an IFR flight plan does not mean you don't have to look out the window. I know the IFR pilot is responsible for traffic avoidance in VMC, and this flight drove the point home!

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BEECH SIERRA HAS AN NMAC WITH A C172 WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: WE (MYSELF AND PLT FRIEND) TOOK OFF FROM CRG RWY 14 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE WX WAS VFR BUT VERY HAZY. WE WERE DIRECTED TO TURN R TO 280 DEGS, CLB TO 2000 FT AND CONTACT JAX APCH, WHICH WE DID. ON CONTACTING APCH, WE WERE TOLD TO LOOK FOR TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK POS AND RPT IN SIGHT. WE BOTH STARTED LOOKING AND RPTED THAT THE TFC WAS NOT IN SIGHT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TFC WAS 12 O'CLOCK POS AT 1 MI, 1300 FT, WHICH WAS OUR CURRENT ALT, ALTHOUGH WE WERE CLBING TO 2000 FT. WE STILL DID NOT SEE THE TFC AND NOTIFIED APCH A THIRD TIME THAT THE TFC WAS STILL NOT IN SIGHT. AS THE CTLR WAS TELLING US WHERE THE ACFT WAS, WE FINALLY SAW IT AS IT PASSED DIRECTLY BELOW US (ABOUT 200 FT OR LESS BELOW). WE NOTIFIED THE CTLR THAT THE TFC WAS IN SIGHT AND NOT A FACTOR. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 6000 FT ON COURSE. KNOWING THAT HINDSIGHT IS 20/20, WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR VECTORS AWAY FROM THE TFC, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS HEADING FOR US AT THE SAME ALT. ALSO, BEING THAT WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE CTLR SHOULD HAVE VECTORED US AWAY FROM THE TFC ANYWAY. THE LESSON LEARNED ON THIS FLT: JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN DOES NOT MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. I KNOW THE IFR PLT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TFC AVOIDANCE IN VMC, AND THIS FLT DROVE THE POINT HOME!

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.