Close proximity commuter-light transport GA-small aircraft southwest of mkl tn.

Attributes
ACN	148681
Time
Date	199006
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mkl
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	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 : 250 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	148681
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Approaching mkl field from the southwest we started our descent approximately 20 NM from the field at 5000' after being cleared for the visibility by mem center. We were now communicating with mkl FSS but unable to get a word in due to congestion on the frequency. Suddenly we spotted a single engine high wing pass overhead (approximately 100'-200' above) west/O any lights on. If this aircraft had been at our altitude it would have been impossible to react in time to avoid a collision. At the time there were six aircraft in the pattern at mkl, and two others practicing instrument holding and approachs. This situation is quite common at mkl because of the flight training of FBO aviation students. I strongly feel that the amount of traffic and flight training in this area west/O a control tower creates a safety hazard. I have encountered several occurrences similar to this where evasive action had to be taken while approaching the area of mkl field and also in the pattern.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX COMMUTER-LTT GA-SMA SW OF MKL TN.

Narrative: APCHING MKL FIELD FROM THE SW WE STARTED OUR DSNT APPROX 20 NM FROM THE FIELD AT 5000' AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE VIS BY MEM CTR. WE WERE NOW COMMUNICATING WITH MKL FSS BUT UNABLE TO GET A WORD IN DUE TO CONGESTION ON THE FREQ. SUDDENLY WE SPOTTED A SINGLE ENG HIGH WING PASS OVERHEAD (APPROX 100'-200' ABOVE) W/O ANY LIGHTS ON. IF THIS ACFT HAD BEEN AT OUR ALT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO REACT IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. AT THE TIME THERE WERE SIX ACFT IN THE PATTERN AT MKL, AND TWO OTHERS PRACTICING INSTRUMENT HOLDING AND APCHS. THIS SITUATION IS QUITE COMMON AT MKL BECAUSE OF THE FLT TRNING OF FBO AVIATION STUDENTS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE AMOUNT OF TFC AND FLT TRNING IN THIS AREA W/O A CTL TWR CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL OCCURRENCES SIMILAR TO THIS WHERE EVASIVE ACTION HAD TO BE TAKEN WHILE APCHING THE AREA OF MKL FIELD AND ALSO IN THE PATTERN.

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.