PA28 pilot arriving mhk reports a near midair collision with a cessna departing the area. The tower ...

Narrative:

After listening to the tower frequency for approximately 20 SM with no observed traffic; I contacted mhk approximately 12 miles out on a heading of 207 degrees toward midfield. As I approached the field in a decent; I was instructed to report midfield on a right downwind for 03. From my position I turned to approximately 130 degrees to position for a right downwind for runway 03. I was north of mhk and would cross the runway approximately 5 miles off the east end of 21-03. While scanning toward the field; checking for any traffic and scanning ahead of me I observed a cessna coming head-on. I diverted to the left and after I started my diversion the approaching plane diverted to his left. The planes passed approximately 100 ft apart. After being contacted by kc center operations; I was informed that the cessna was talking to center and I was talking to mhk tower. There was no communication on the tower frequency from the cessna. I was not aware of his presence in the area. I believe that if the cessna was in communications with the local airport that I would have known that he was there and the tower would have advised me of the traffic. I think that if I had been using center for flight following; they would have made me aware of the traffic. If the cessna was with the center; he should have been notified that I was in the vicinity.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot arriving MHK reports a NMAC with a Cessna departing the area. The Tower made no notification to either pilot.

Narrative: After listening to the Tower frequency for approximately 20 SM with no observed traffic; I contacted MHK approximately 12 miles out on a heading of 207 degrees toward midfield. As I approached the field in a decent; I was instructed to report midfield on a right downwind for 03. From my position I turned to approximately 130 degrees to position for a right downwind for Runway 03. I was north of MHK and would cross the runway approximately 5 miles off the east end of 21-03. While scanning toward the field; checking for any traffic and scanning ahead of me I observed a Cessna coming head-on. I diverted to the left and after I started my diversion the approaching plane diverted to his left. The planes passed approximately 100 FT apart. After being contacted by KC Center operations; I was informed that the Cessna was talking to Center and I was talking to MHK Tower. There was no communication on the Tower frequency from the Cessna. I was not aware of his presence in the area. I believe that if the Cessna was in communications with the local airport that I would have known that he was there and the tower would have advised me of the traffic. I think that if I had been using Center for flight following; they would have made me aware of the traffic. If the Cessna was with the Center; he should have been notified that I was in the vicinity.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1157655
Time
Date	201403
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MHK.Airport
State Reference	KS
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11 Flight Crew Total 234 Flight Crew Type 234
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 100

PA28 pilot arriving mhk reports a near midair collision with a cessna departing the area. The tower made no notification to either pilot.