Near midair collision between small transport at 10,000' on VFR clearance. Practice IFR approach to prc. Small aircraft enroute at approximately 10,000' apparently on IFR plan being controlled by ZAB.

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Attributes
ACN	131138
Time
Date	198912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : prc
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab tower : prc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar controller : non radar pilot : atp
Experience	controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 2 flight time total : 6000
ASRS Report	131138
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While in contact with prescott ATC tower at love field aircraft a, a twin engine small transport was conducting a practice instrument approach under VFR. The aircraft passed in close proximity to another aircraft, possibly a single small aircraft (aircraft B). Aircraft a was at approximately 10,000 MSL on the initial phase of the VOR a instrument approach procedures. Aircraft B also appeared in level flight at approximately the same altitude. It is believed that aircraft B was on an IFR flight plan in contact with ZAB. The procedure of having aircraft on practice instrument apches in contact with prescott ATC tower throughout the entire procedure is unsafe. These aircraft are in the same airspace as aircraft receiving services from ZAB. No traffic information is exchanged between these 2 facs. Additionally prescott ATC tower is a non radar tower. The tower controllers are unable to provide traffic information in order to prevent occurrences such as this. Aircraft requesting practice instrument apches to love field should be instructed to contact ZAB. ZAB can provide radar service at least during the initial phases of the procedure. Aircraft then can be handed off to prescott ATC tower established on the final approach course inbound.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BETWEEN SMT AT 10,000' ON VFR CLRNC. PRACTICE IFR APCH TO PRC. SMA ENROUTE AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000' APPARENTLY ON IFR PLAN BEING CONTROLLED BY ZAB.

Narrative: WHILE IN CONTACT WITH PRESCOTT ATC TWR AT LOVE FIELD ACFT A, A TWIN ENGINE SMT WAS CONDUCTING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APCH UNDER VFR. THE ACFT PASSED IN CLOSE PROX TO ANOTHER ACFT, POSSIBLY A SINGLE SMA (ACFT B). ACFT A WAS AT APPROX 10,000 MSL ON THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE VOR A INSTRUMENT APCH PROCS. ACFT B ALSO APPEARED IN LEVEL FLT AT APPROX THE SAME ALT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT ACFT B WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN CONTACT WITH ZAB. THE PROC OF HAVING ACFT ON PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APCHES IN CONTACT WITH PRESCOTT ATC TWR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROC IS UNSAFE. THESE ACFT ARE IN THE SAME AIRSPACE AS ACFT RECEIVING SERVICES FROM ZAB. NO TFC INFO IS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THESE 2 FACS. ADDITIONALLY PRESCOTT ATC TWR IS A NON RADAR TWR. THE TWR CTLRS ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE TFC INFO IN ORDER TO PREVENT OCCURRENCES SUCH AS THIS. ACFT REQUESTING PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APCHES TO LOVE FIELD SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ZAB. ZAB CAN PROVIDE RADAR SERVICE AT LEAST DURING THE INITIAL PHASES OF THE PROC. ACFT THEN CAN BE HANDED OFF TO PRESCOTT ATC TWR ESTABLISHED ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE INBND.

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.