Two aircraft at the same altitude and opposite direction came very close to a midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	159248
Time
Date	199010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : efh
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : pwm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	159248
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 150 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Controller in an urgent tone instructed us to make an immediate right turn to 090 degree from our heading of 335 degree. I disconnected the autoplt and started to turn right. As I was banking the first officer said 'don't do that!' and pointed out traffic at '12:30' on a collision course at our altitude. We descended from 26000' to 25800' an rolled wings level. The aircraft on a collision course, an light transport passed above us and on our right about 200' away. No passenger or crew injured. After talking to ARTCC later... Evidently the controller just 'forgot' about both aircraft. We need more controllers working less sectors! Had we not taken the evasive action, a collision would have occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWO ACFT AT THE SAME ALT AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION CAME VERY CLOSE TO A MIDAIR COLLISION.

Narrative: CTLR IN AN URGENT TONE INSTRUCTED US TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE R TURN TO 090 DEG FROM OUR HDG OF 335 DEG. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND STARTED TO TURN R. AS I WAS BANKING THE F/O SAID 'DON'T DO THAT!' AND POINTED OUT TFC AT '12:30' ON A COLLISION COURSE AT OUR ALT. WE DSNDED FROM 26000' TO 25800' AN ROLLED WINGS LEVEL. THE ACFT ON A COLLISION COURSE, AN LTT PASSED ABOVE US AND ON OUR R ABOUT 200' AWAY. NO PAX OR CREW INJURED. AFTER TALKING TO ARTCC LATER... EVIDENTLY THE CTLR JUST 'FORGOT' ABOUT BOTH ACFT. WE NEED MORE CTLRS WORKING LESS SECTORS! HAD WE NOT TAKEN THE EVASIVE ACTION, A COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

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.