Pilot receiving flight following questioned controller about traffic in close proximity to his aircr...

Attributes
ACN	1157077
Time
Date	201403
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZKC.ARTCC
State Reference	KS
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	Other unknown
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 21.5
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Developmental
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 50

Narrative:

I was training a developmental on the D side. The aircraft asked on frequency if we had any targets in his vicinity. The right controller replied affirmative and called a target in his vicinity about 300 feet lower; moving away. The pilot sounded shaken and decided to end his photo mission and return to mhk. We learned later that the pilot stated to management in a phone call that the other aircraft had passed by very close. He estimated 50 feet. The right controller was busy at the time with a steady stream of clearances and advisories on the radio. Right before the event he was talking to another aircraft going into sln VFR and then activates an IFR flight plan. While this discussion was going on; the event occurred. No conflict alert or mode C intruder was activated.this aircraft was operating very low; just above the mhk class D airspace. It is possible that better advisory service would have been provided by the tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot receiving flight following questioned Controller about traffic in close proximity to his aircraft. Controller did not issue traffic until pilot questioned Controller. Unknown traffic was extremely close to traffic under ATC control.

Narrative: I was training a Developmental on the D side. The aircraft asked on frequency if we had any targets in his vicinity. The R Controller replied affirmative and called a target in his vicinity about 300 feet lower; moving away. The pilot sounded shaken and decided to end his photo mission and return to MHK. We learned later that the pilot stated to management in a phone call that the other aircraft had passed by very close. He estimated 50 feet. The R Controller was busy at the time with a steady stream of clearances and advisories on the radio. Right before the event he was talking to another aircraft going into SLN VFR and then activates an IFR flight plan. While this discussion was going on; the event occurred. No conflict alert or Mode C intruder was activated.This aircraft was operating very low; just above the MHK Class D airspace. It is possible that better advisory service would have been provided by the Tower.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Pilot receiving flight following questioned controller about traffic in close proximity to his aircraft. Controller did not issue traffic until pilot questioned controller. Unknown traffic was extremely close to traffic under ATC control.