Too close encounter, ATC problem.

Attributes
ACN	103364
Time
Date	198901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ape
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14550 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 148 flight time total : 14676
ASRS Report	103364
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I (captain) had turned on both exterior recognition lights and icing lights prior to turn up cockpit lighting to do some paperwork, get ATIS for cak and review approach plates. As I began to get the ATIS the first officer, who was flying, motioned me back to assist him. He pointed out traffic out his right forward windshield that ZID had said was coming at 16000'. The aircraft seemed to come into our recognition lights and seemed to be filling our cockpit window. We both instinctively reacted, turning left (away) and down. Then I thought it might have been an optical illusion. The light transport aircraft seeming closer than actual since ZID had him coming into sector at 16000' and we were at 15000'. Center confirmed that we had veered left and dropped to 14550' (exactly correct). In retrospect, I am now certain that we came within perhaps 50'. I was sure the right wing would contact the light transport belly as we turned and dived. The passenger thought it was very close also.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TOO CLOSE ENCOUNTER, ATC PROBLEM.

Narrative: I (CAPT) HAD TURNED ON BOTH EXTERIOR RECOGNITION LIGHTS AND ICING LIGHTS PRIOR TO TURN UP COCKPIT LIGHTING TO DO SOME PAPERWORK, GET ATIS FOR CAK AND REVIEW APCH PLATES. AS I BEGAN TO GET THE ATIS THE F/O, WHO WAS FLYING, MOTIONED ME BACK TO ASSIST HIM. HE POINTED OUT TFC OUT HIS RIGHT FORWARD WINDSHIELD THAT ZID HAD SAID WAS COMING AT 16000'. THE ACFT SEEMED TO COME INTO OUR RECOGNITION LIGHTS AND SEEMED TO BE FILLING OUR COCKPIT WINDOW. WE BOTH INSTINCTIVELY REACTED, TURNING LEFT (AWAY) AND DOWN. THEN I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OPTICAL ILLUSION. THE LTT ACFT SEEMING CLOSER THAN ACTUAL SINCE ZID HAD HIM COMING INTO SECTOR AT 16000' AND WE WERE AT 15000'. CENTER CONFIRMED THAT WE HAD VEERED LEFT AND DROPPED TO 14550' (EXACTLY CORRECT). IN RETROSPECT, I AM NOW CERTAIN THAT WE CAME WITHIN PERHAPS 50'. I WAS SURE THE RIGHT WING WOULD CONTACT THE LTT BELLY AS WE TURNED AND DIVED. THE PAX THOUGHT IT WAS VERY CLOSE ALSO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.