Narrative:

Heading of 270 degree at 8500' VFR direct to new braunfels from 54TX via south of TCA. At location near gland intersection a commuter was encountered on a heading of 060 degree at 8500'. They did not appear to be in a descent. They made no attitude change. I made a left turn to approximately 250 degree heading. They passed on right of my aircraft. I was squawking 1200 mode C and monitoring 127.05 as per route chart. As soon as I saw the aircraft I knew I needed to turn left and did so immediately. They would have probably passed in front of me had no action been taken, but would have been close. My concern is why they were not alerted of traffic. They must have been in contact with center. Does the computer sound alerts if possible conflicts? I should have seen them sooner. I was checking my maps and flying. They were behind the door post, but I did see and avoid the commuter aircraft which was at the wrong altitude and should have had the aid of center for their navigation. It is easy to assume that 'center' or 'approach' will take care of traffic advisory. Both commuter pilots must have had their heads down. I can understand that. What I can't understand, is when I have invested in mode C capability and using it, why 'center' or 'approach' does not see me and alert other traffic of my presence. The fact that the commuter should have been talking to 'center' or 'approach' and been advised of a conflict is why I sent this report. I just want to point out a weak area in our system. I hope this report will help pin point that weakness and strengthen the cure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA SMA COMMUTER SMT SW OF IAH.

Narrative: HDG OF 270 DEG AT 8500' VFR DIRECT TO NEW BRAUNFELS FROM 54TX VIA S OF TCA. AT LOCATION NEAR GLAND INTXN A COMMUTER WAS ENCOUNTERED ON A HDG OF 060 DEG AT 8500'. THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE IN A DSNT. THEY MADE NO ATTITUDE CHANGE. I MADE A L TURN TO APPROX 250 DEG HDG. THEY PASSED ON R OF MY ACFT. I WAS SQUAWKING 1200 MODE C AND MONITORING 127.05 AS PER RTE CHART. AS SOON AS I SAW THE ACFT I KNEW I NEEDED TO TURN L AND DID SO IMMEDIATELY. THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY PASSED IN FRONT OF ME HAD NO ACTION BEEN TAKEN, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE. MY CONCERN IS WHY THEY WERE NOT ALERTED OF TFC. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CTR. DOES THE COMPUTER SOUND ALERTS IF POSSIBLE CONFLICTS? I SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEM SOONER. I WAS CHKING MY MAPS AND FLYING. THEY WERE BEHIND THE DOOR POST, BUT I DID SEE AND AVOID THE COMMUTER ACFT WHICH WAS AT THE WRONG ALT AND SHOULD HAVE HAD THE AID OF CTR FOR THEIR NAV. IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THAT 'CTR' OR 'APCH' WILL TAKE CARE OF TFC ADVISORY. BOTH COMMUTER PLTS MUST HAVE HAD THEIR HEADS DOWN. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND, IS WHEN I HAVE INVESTED IN MODE C CAPABILITY AND USING IT, WHY 'CTR' OR 'APCH' DOES NOT SEE ME AND ALERT OTHER TFC OF MY PRESENCE. THE FACT THAT THE COMMUTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING TO 'CTR' OR 'APCH' AND BEEN ADVISED OF A CONFLICT IS WHY I SENT THIS RPT. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A WEAK AREA IN OUR SYS. I HOPE THIS RPT WILL HELP PIN POINT THAT WEAKNESS AND STRENGTHEN THE CURE.

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.