Light aircraft on IFR flight plan not communicating with ATC, has near midair collision with another...

Attributes
ACN	115405
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vtu
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v299
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 14
ASRS Report	115405
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from myf to lpc with non pilot friend in small aircraft X. Later night IFR plan with no WX reporting at destination. During flight I'm explaining activities to passenger, monitoring (on 2ND radio) santa barbara to santa maria unicoms and planning alternatives to lpc. Approximately 12 DME east of vtu I point to oncoming aircraft Y and explain to passenger that 'he is at wrong altitude and ATC never tells you about the ones you're going to hit'. Following 'safe' passage I noted we hadn't talked to ATC for 15 or 20 min and still tuned to sd or coast. I then called ZLA whereupon we were reunited with ATC and chastised for having lost communication. I claim no hand-off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT ACFT ON IFR FLT PLAN NOT COMMUNICATING WITH ATC, HAS NMAC WITH ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM MYF TO LPC WITH NON PLT FRIEND IN SMA X. LATER NIGHT IFR PLAN WITH NO WX REPORTING AT DEST. DURING FLT I'M EXPLAINING ACTIVITIES TO PAX, MONITORING (ON 2ND RADIO) SANTA BARBARA TO SANTA MARIA UNICOMS AND PLANNING ALTERNATIVES TO LPC. APPROX 12 DME E OF VTU I POINT TO ONCOMING ACFT Y AND EXPLAIN TO PAX THAT 'HE IS AT WRONG ALT AND ATC NEVER TELLS YOU ABOUT THE ONES YOU'RE GOING TO HIT'. FOLLOWING 'SAFE' PASSAGE I NOTED WE HADN'T TALKED TO ATC FOR 15 OR 20 MIN AND STILL TUNED TO SD OR COAST. I THEN CALLED ZLA WHEREUPON WE WERE REUNITED WITH ATC AND CHASTISED FOR HAVING LOST COM. I CLAIM NO HAND-OFF.

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.

Light aircraft on IFR flight plan not communicating with ATC, has near midair collision with another aircraft.