Near midair collision in holding pattern.

Attributes
ACN	145572
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : v19
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 33800 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	145572
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 450
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were assigned an altitude of 8000' MSL and told to hold at katre as published. (Katre is 27 DME north on V19 out of den.) we asked for and were given 10 mi legs. While heading north on our first pattern and starting our turn south, we were told by ZDV that an aircraft at 8100', climbing to 8200' MSL, was heading east to west and would be crossing our path. The aircraft passed behind us. While turning north again, center advised us the same aircraft was 12 O'clock, 8000' MSL and coming directly at us. We were told to deviate as necessary, except to climb, due to holding traffic at 9000'. We turned right and descended 500' immediately. The aircraft passed off our left 400-500' above, still on the same heading. Center tracked the aircraft to identify because they had not been in radio contact at the time. Holding at this altitude in VFR/IFR conditions with so many small airports and VFR traffic in the area probably contributed to this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC IN HOLDING PATTERN.

Narrative: WE WERE ASSIGNED AN ALT OF 8000' MSL AND TOLD TO HOLD AT KATRE AS PUBLISHED. (KATRE IS 27 DME N ON V19 OUT OF DEN.) WE ASKED FOR AND WERE GIVEN 10 MI LEGS. WHILE HEADING N ON OUR FIRST PATTERN AND STARTING OUR TURN S, WE WERE TOLD BY ZDV THAT AN ACFT AT 8100', CLBING TO 8200' MSL, WAS HDG E TO W AND WOULD BE XING OUR PATH. THE ACFT PASSED BEHIND US. WHILE TURNING N AGAIN, CENTER ADVISED US THE SAME ACFT WAS 12 O'CLOCK, 8000' MSL AND COMING DIRECTLY AT US. WE WERE TOLD TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY, EXCEPT TO CLB, DUE TO HOLDING TFC AT 9000'. WE TURNED RIGHT AND DSNDED 500' IMMEDIATELY. THE ACFT PASSED OFF OUR LEFT 400-500' ABOVE, STILL ON THE SAME HDG. CENTER TRACKED THE ACFT TO IDENT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN RADIO CONTACT AT THE TIME. HOLDING AT THIS ALT IN VFR/IFR CONDITIONS WITH SO MANY SMALL ARPTS AND VFR TFC IN THE AREA PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.