An air carrier Y flight crew questions the proximity to a descending atx frt small transport that ha...

Attributes
ACN	176660
Time
Date	199104
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fnt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 15500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 14500
ASRS Report	176660
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on an IFR flight plan from mfe to fnt. We were flying an small transport X and had received clearance to below 18000'. Out of 18000' we cancelled IFR and remained at 17500'. For the next few mi we remained on the same transponder code and frequency for traffic advisories. An air carrier X aircraft was level at 14000' and center advised him of our position. The air carrier X captain reported us in sight and was cleared to climb (with reference to us) to FL230. The air carrier X started a climb, and since we had him in sight we decided to start our descent to stay out of his way. After we passed under him, he asked the center how close we were, and said it looked like a near miss. We came on frequency and told center we had him in sight the whole time, and we were an estimated 1500' below him. The center told the air carrier Y captain that he had reported us in sight and was told to climb with visibility reference to us and that we were VFR. The air carrier Y captain was not satisfied and wanted to make an issue out of it. Why did the captain climb too close for his comfort if he had us in sight at all times? We were VFR at the time into fnt and passed under him at a safe altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR Y FLT CREW QUESTIONS THE PROX TO A DESCENDING ATX FRT SMT THAT HAD CANCELLED IFR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM MFE TO FNT. WE WERE FLYING AN SMT X AND HAD RECEIVED CLRNC TO BELOW 18000'. OUT OF 18000' WE CANCELLED IFR AND REMAINED AT 17500'. FOR THE NEXT FEW MI WE REMAINED ON THE SAME XPONDER CODE AND FREQ FOR TFC ADVISORIES. AN ACR X ACFT WAS LEVEL AT 14000' AND CENTER ADVISED HIM OF OUR POS. THE ACR X CAPT RPTED US IN SIGHT AND WAS CLRED TO CLB (WITH REF TO US) TO FL230. THE ACR X STARTED A CLB, AND SINCE WE HAD HIM IN SIGHT WE DECIDED TO START OUR DSNT TO STAY OUT OF HIS WAY. AFTER WE PASSED UNDER HIM, HE ASKED THE CENTER HOW CLOSE WE WERE, AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A NEAR MISS. WE CAME ON FREQ AND TOLD CENTER WE HAD HIM IN SIGHT THE WHOLE TIME, AND WE WERE AN ESTIMATED 1500' BELOW HIM. THE CENTER TOLD THE ACR Y CAPT THAT HE HAD RPTED US IN SIGHT AND WAS TOLD TO CLB WITH VIS REF TO US AND THAT WE WERE VFR. THE ACR Y CAPT WAS NOT SATISFIED AND WANTED TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF IT. WHY DID THE CAPT CLB TOO CLOSE FOR HIS COMFORT IF HE HAD US IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES? WE WERE VFR AT THE TIME INTO FNT AND PASSED UNDER HIM AT A SAFE ALT.

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.

An air carrier Y flight crew questions the proximity to a descending atx frt small transport that had cancelled IFR.