Potential conflict at 2500 ft between a departure C152 private pilot and another aircraft 4 NM south...

Attributes
ACN	625396
Time
Date	200407
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sav.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 2560
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Route In Use	departure : vfr departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27.7 flight time total : 106 flight time type : 18.4
ASRS Report	625396
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While preparing to depart on VFR flight from sav to dab, I received a clearance to fly VFR 3000 ft or below. I departed runway 36 and was instructed to turn left to 270 degrees as soon as possible. After reaching approximately 500 ft I was asked again to turn. I confirmed and made the turn. ATC then asked what altitude I was leaving and climbing to. I responded 'leaving 750 ft to 2500 ft.' approximately at the end of runway 27 I was told to turn 180 degrees. I confirmed and made turn. Upon reaching 2500 ft I was told to resume own navigation. Shortly thereafter, ATC called another aircraft to descend immediately and told me to climb. At the same time I saw the other aircraft coming head-on less than 1/2 mi at my altitude. I turned quickly and did not have time to respond to ATC. I was then told by ATC that I had been given instructions to turn and wanted to know why I had left that heading. I never heard any new heading after being told to resume own navigation. ATC then gave me instructions to resume own navigation and asked again what altitude I wanted. I told them again, 2500 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT AT 2500 FT BTWN A DEP C152 PVT PLT AND ANOTHER ACFT 4 NM S OF SAV.

Narrative: WHILE PREPARING TO DEPART ON VFR FLT FROM SAV TO DAB, I RECEIVED A CLRNC TO FLY VFR 3000 FT OR BELOW. I DEPARTED RWY 36 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN L TO 270 DEGS ASAP. AFTER REACHING APPROX 500 FT I WAS ASKED AGAIN TO TURN. I CONFIRMED AND MADE THE TURN. ATC THEN ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS LEAVING AND CLBING TO. I RESPONDED 'LEAVING 750 FT TO 2500 FT.' APPROX AT THE END OF RWY 27 I WAS TOLD TO TURN 180 DEGS. I CONFIRMED AND MADE TURN. UPON REACHING 2500 FT I WAS TOLD TO RESUME OWN NAV. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ATC CALLED ANOTHER ACFT TO DSND IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD ME TO CLB. AT THE SAME TIME I SAW THE OTHER ACFT COMING HEAD-ON LESS THAN 1/2 MI AT MY ALT. I TURNED QUICKLY AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RESPOND TO ATC. I WAS THEN TOLD BY ATC THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY I HAD LEFT THAT HDG. I NEVER HEARD ANY NEW HDG AFTER BEING TOLD TO RESUME OWN NAV. ATC THEN GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS TO RESUME OWN NAV AND ASKED AGAIN WHAT ALT I WANTED. I TOLD THEM AGAIN, 2500 FT.

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.

Potential conflict at 2500 ft between a departure C152 private pilot and another aircraft 4 NM south of sav.