Near midair collision for light aircraft VFR, but in contact with center for traffic advisories.

Attributes
ACN	113937
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ihm airport : nan
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 575
ASRS Report	113937
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 175
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While flying a heading of approximately 135-150 degree at 3500' en route from worcester to taunton, ma, my wife screamed 'look out' from the right seat. I turned my head towards her just in time to see an small transport (appeared to be a light twin engine, at) at my 4-5 O'clock position, bearing down on us at the same altitude at what appeared to be 500-700' away. I immediately dove to avoid midair collision and other aircraft passed overhead separated by 150-200'. He took no evasive action whatsoever, leading me to believe he never saw me. His heading appeared to be 110-125 degree. I was under boston center control with discrete transponder code at the time and had been provided flight following service from my point of departure (lebanon, nh). Problem: sophisticated twin driver with his head buried in his cockpit even though WX was ceiling and visibility unlimited.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION FOR LIGHT ACFT VFR, BUT IN CONTACT WITH CENTER FOR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A HDG OF APPROX 135-150 DEG AT 3500' ENRTE FROM WORCESTER TO TAUNTON, MA, MY WIFE SCREAMED 'LOOK OUT' FROM THE RIGHT SEAT. I TURNED MY HEAD TOWARDS HER JUST IN TIME TO SEE AN SMT (APPEARED TO BE A LIGHT TWIN ENGINE, AT) AT MY 4-5 O'CLOCK POSITION, BEARING DOWN ON US AT THE SAME ALT AT WHAT APPEARED TO BE 500-700' AWAY. I IMMEDIATELY DOVE TO AVOID MIDAIR COLLISION AND OTHER ACFT PASSED OVERHEAD SEPARATED BY 150-200'. HE TOOK NO EVASIVE ACTION WHATSOEVER, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE HE NEVER SAW ME. HIS HDG APPEARED TO BE 110-125 DEG. I WAS UNDER BOSTON CENTER CTL WITH DISCRETE XPONDER CODE AT THE TIME AND HAD BEEN PROVIDED FLT FOLLOWING SERVICE FROM MY POINT OF DEP (LEBANON, NH). PROBLEM: SOPHISTICATED TWIN DRIVER WITH HIS HEAD BURIED IN HIS COCKPIT EVEN THOUGH WX WAS CEILING AND VISIBILITY UNLIMITED.

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.