Beech B35 pilot has a conflict while in cruise.

Attributes
ACN	717326
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zjx.artcc
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Piper Aircraft Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 3327 flight time type : 1948
ASRS Report	717326
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was flying direct pie/tbr at 5500 ft (030 degrees) with flight following. I was advised of 2 targets; one at my 11 O'clock position; and one at my 12 O'clock position. I responded that I saw 2 targets very close together at my 12 O'clock position. I never saw the second reported target until it passed directly under my plane flying from my 10 O'clock position to my 4 O'clock position. The fact that there were 3; not 2; targets may have caused confusion. I failed to continue searching for the third target; and I received no further ATC advisories on the unseen aircraft; led to a near collision.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BEECH B35 PLT HAS A CONFLICT WHILE IN CRUISE.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING DIRECT PIE/TBR AT 5500 FT (030 DEGS) WITH FLT FOLLOWING. I WAS ADVISED OF 2 TARGETS; ONE AT MY 11 O'CLOCK POS; AND ONE AT MY 12 O'CLOCK POS. I RESPONDED THAT I SAW 2 TARGETS VERY CLOSE TOGETHER AT MY 12 O'CLOCK POS. I NEVER SAW THE SECOND RPTED TARGET UNTIL IT PASSED DIRECTLY UNDER MY PLANE FLYING FROM MY 10 O'CLOCK POS TO MY 4 O'CLOCK POS. THE FACT THAT THERE WERE 3; NOT 2; TARGETS MAY HAVE CAUSED CONFUSION. I FAILED TO CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR THE THIRD TARGET; AND I RECEIVED NO FURTHER ATC ADVISORIES ON THE UNSEEN ACFT; LED TO A NEAR COLLISION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.