37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1502895 |
Time | |
Date | 201712 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | LVJ.Airport |
State Reference | TX |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Dusk |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | M-20 E Super 21 |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
Flight Phase | Climb |
Flight Plan | None |
Aircraft 2 | |
Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
Route In Use | Visual Approach |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Person 1 | |
Function | Single Pilot |
Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 270 Flight Crew Total 9530 Flight Crew Type 279 |
Events | |
Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict |
Miss Distance | Vertical 500 |
Narrative:
I was climbing out of lvj and turned westbound to avoid houston class B airspace. My intent was to climb to 1;500 ft and proceed westbound around class B airspace and climb once in radar contact and/or cleared into class B. As I was passing through 1;000 ft; my passenger called out traffic going right above us. As it was going from my 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock high position I saw it was a B737. He looked close! As he began the turn to the right and still descending on what looked like a visual approach to runway 4 at hou; it appeared that he was descending below class B airspace and again heading towards us. At this point; I decided to descend and maneuver out of his way. Meanwhile; I was in contact with hou approach and they gave me a squawk code and asked me to identify. No mention of any radar contact. After the 737 passed above the first time; I queried ATC if they had us on radar; and told them I had the 737 in sight. At this point; the controller gave me a new frequency. I switched frequencies. No answer there; so I returned to [previous frequency]. It was at this point that I maneuvered to get out 737's way. After the completion of the maneuver I was given another squawk code and a radar contact. I might have gotten close to the tip of class B airspace; but I am certain I did not penetrate the boundary. After getting the 'radar contact' call; the rest of my flight was uneventful. In the vicinity of hou; there are several busy GA airports. Most GA pilots will stay below class B airspace and possibly not be in communication with ATC. It is critical that airline pilots remain aware of the floor of class B and stick to it as that is one of the big protective layers for all parties. In this case; I would caution 737 pilots against descending below class B airspace; and specifically remain at 2;000 ft until inside of 3NM from esaay on approach to hou runway 4.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA pilot reported an airborne conflict with a 737 outside of Class B airspace near HOU.
Narrative: I was climbing out of LVJ and turned westbound to avoid Houston Class B airspace. My intent was to climb to 1;500 ft and proceed westbound around Class B airspace and climb once in radar contact and/or cleared into Class B. As I was passing through 1;000 ft; my passenger called out traffic going right above us. As it was going from my 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock high position I saw it was a B737. He looked close! As he began the turn to the right and still descending on what looked like a visual approach to Runway 4 at HOU; it appeared that he was descending below Class B airspace and again heading towards us. At this point; I decided to descend and maneuver out of his way. Meanwhile; I was in contact with HOU Approach and they gave me a squawk code and asked me to IDENT. No mention of any radar contact. After the 737 passed above the first time; I queried ATC if they had us on radar; and told them I had the 737 in sight. At this point; the Controller gave me a new frequency. I switched frequencies. No answer there; so I returned to [previous frequency]. It was at this point that I maneuvered to get out 737's way. After the completion of the maneuver I was given another squawk code and a radar contact. I might have gotten close to the tip of Class B airspace; but I am certain I did not penetrate the boundary. After getting the 'radar contact' call; the rest of my flight was uneventful. In the vicinity of HOU; there are several busy GA airports. Most GA pilots will stay below Class B airspace and possibly not be in communication with ATC. It is critical that airline pilots remain aware of the floor of Class B and stick to it as that is one of the big protective layers for all parties. In this case; I would caution 737 pilots against descending below Class B airspace; and specifically remain at 2;000 ft until inside of 3NM from ESAAY on approach to HOU Runway 4.
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.