Commuter aircraft advised of traffic, not sighted. Takes evasive action when sighted.

Attributes
ACN	175416
Time
Date	199104
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pqi
State Reference	ME
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9500
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 airway : liz
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	175416
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 150 vertical : 60
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were VFR descending inbound to poi with advisories. 2 IFR outbnds (light twins) on IFR plans, same controller working all 3 aircraft. Controller called out 1 O'clock high and 12 O'clock in trail at 8000' to 05. We called 1 O'clock in sight through 9500'. We asked position of other negative contact in relation to traffic that was now off our right wing. We were still no joy. 8000' traffic called us in sight. He never attempted to avoid us. We were established in a 45 degree right turn to avoid. With approximately 400' KT closure the other IFR aircraft nearly hit us. Our landing lights were on, his were not. Why didn't 8000' have his lights on? Why didn't he attempt a turn sooner or ask ATC for a turn? He had us in sight. Why didn't ATC suggest a vector away or suggest stopping descent? We could have stopped our descent earlier, that's the only thing I feel we could have done to help. Note: in my opinion I feel part 91 IFR pilots on IFR plans feel superior and claim right of way over VFR traffic--macho. So macho, I and 19 others could have died that night.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER ACFT ADVISED OF TRAFFIC, NOT SIGHTED. TAKES EVASIVE ACTION WHEN SIGHTED.

Narrative: WE WERE VFR DSNDING INBND TO POI WITH ADVISORIES. 2 IFR OUTBNDS (LIGHT TWINS) ON IFR PLANS, SAME CTLR WORKING ALL 3 ACFT. CTLR CALLED OUT 1 O'CLOCK HIGH AND 12 O'CLOCK IN TRAIL AT 8000' TO 05. WE CALLED 1 O'CLOCK IN SIGHT THROUGH 9500'. WE ASKED POS OF OTHER NEGATIVE CONTACT IN RELATION TO TFC THAT WAS NOW OFF OUR RIGHT WING. WE WERE STILL NO JOY. 8000' TFC CALLED US IN SIGHT. HE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID US. WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN A 45 DEG RIGHT TURN TO AVOID. WITH APPROX 400' KT CLOSURE THE OTHER IFR ACFT NEARLY HIT US. OUR LNDG LIGHTS WERE ON, HIS WERE NOT. WHY DIDN'T 8000' HAVE HIS LIGHTS ON? WHY DIDN'T HE ATTEMPT A TURN SOONER OR ASK ATC FOR A TURN? HE HAD US IN SIGHT. WHY DIDN'T ATC SUGGEST A VECTOR AWAY OR SUGGEST STOPPING DSNT? WE COULD HAVE STOPPED OUR DSNT EARLIER, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I FEEL WE COULD HAVE DONE TO HELP. NOTE: IN MY OPINION I FEEL PART 91 IFR PLTS ON IFR PLANS FEEL SUPERIOR AND CLAIM RIGHT OF WAY OVER VFR TFC--MACHO. SO MACHO, I AND 19 OTHERS COULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT.

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.