Atx small transport has near miss with large transport. Small transport was VFR.

Attributes
ACN	110144
Time
Date	198905
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ttn
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11900 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	110144
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain 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 : 200 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

The flight was operated VFR from mmk to ttn at 10500'. VFR advisories were maintained the entire flight. About 50 NM northeast off ttn an IFR clearance to VFR conditions were requested, and was told to standby. About 5 mins later ATC advised a descent to 7500' could be started. When questioned if this was an IFR clearance, I was advised that it was not, and that I could get it from the next controller who was not as busy. The controller was extremely busy and after 5-10 mins I still did not have a handoff. At the same time the tops ahead were rising and was not going to be able to maintain VFR at the current altitude. Unable to get a word in to the controller. A VFR climb was begun to maintain VFR. At approximately 11900' an large transport was spotted at 12-12:30. We both initiated left turns to avoid a collision. After passing the traffic the controller asked if the traffic had been in sight and an affirmative was given, and also wanted my altitude. I advised that I was at 11000' and climbing and was unable to advise the controller of the climb. I was again asked if I had the traffic and again advised that I did. I was told that I had been handed off to the next controller several mins previous. I advised I never heard the handoff. The handoff was then completed, and an IFR clearance was given and the flight was completed west/O further event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMT HAS NEAR MISS WITH LGT. SMT WAS VFR.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS OPERATED VFR FROM MMK TO TTN AT 10500'. VFR ADVISORIES WERE MAINTAINED THE ENTIRE FLT. ABOUT 50 NM NE OFF TTN AN IFR CLRNC TO VFR CONDITIONS WERE REQUESTED, AND WAS TOLD TO STANDBY. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER ATC ADVISED A DSCNT TO 7500' COULD BE STARTED. WHEN QUESTIONED IF THIS WAS AN IFR CLRNC, I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT, AND THAT I COULD GET IT FROM THE NEXT CTLR WHO WAS NOT AS BUSY. THE CTLR WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND AFTER 5-10 MINS I STILL DID NOT HAVE A HDOF. AT THE SAME TIME THE TOPS AHEAD WERE RISING AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AT THE CURRENT ALT. UNABLE TO GET A WORD IN TO THE CTLR. A VFR CLB WAS BEGUN TO MAINTAIN VFR. AT APPROX 11900' AN LGT WAS SPOTTED AT 12-12:30. WE BOTH INITIATED LEFT TURNS TO AVOID A COLLISION. AFTER PASSING THE TFC THE CTLR ASKED IF THE TFC HAD BEEN IN SIGHT AND AN AFFIRMATIVE WAS GIVEN, AND ALSO WANTED MY ALT. I ADVISED THAT I WAS AT 11000' AND CLBING AND WAS UNABLE TO ADVISE THE CTLR OF THE CLB. I WAS AGAIN ASKED IF I HAD THE TFC AND AGAIN ADVISED THAT I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD BEEN HANDED OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR SEVERAL MINS PREVIOUS. I ADVISED I NEVER HEARD THE HDOF. THE HDOF WAS THEN COMPLETED, AND AN IFR CLRNC WAS GIVEN AND THE FLT WAS COMPLETED W/O FURTHER EVENT.

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.