Close procedure air carrier-mdt GA-small aircraft at the northwest boundary of the N90 TCA.

Attributes
ACN	191882
Time
Date	199110
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	191882
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Cruising direct brezy at 4000 ft, autoplt on, a high wing single engine small aircraft X passed overhead, opposite direction, on our left side. Did not see aircraft until he was so close that evasive action futile. No warning from ATC (frequency 127.6). Approximately 15 seconds later ATC gave traffic ahead on left and right, low. Both were no conflict, several mi ahead. This problem occurs regularly because our flight is planned at low altitude and via a route which nears the northwest boundary of the new york TCA. Our company is unable to get a higher or better rted flight plan on these dca to hpn flts. TCASII onboard the mdt would be very helpful. Better ATC separation would also be appreciated. I adjust my seat (to a less comfortable) position on these particular flts to give me the best 'see and avoid' view. I try to spend all my time scanning for traffic as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROC ACR-MDT GA-SMA AT THE NW BOUNDARY OF THE N90 TCA.

Narrative: CRUISING DIRECT BREZY AT 4000 FT, AUTOPLT ON, A HIGH WING SINGLE ENG SMA X PASSED OVERHEAD, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ON OUR L SIDE. DID NOT SEE ACFT UNTIL HE WAS SO CLOSE THAT EVASIVE ACTION FUTILE. NO WARNING FROM ATC (FREQ 127.6). APPROX 15 SECONDS LATER ATC GAVE TFC AHEAD ON L AND R, LOW. BOTH WERE NO CONFLICT, SEVERAL MI AHEAD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGULARLY BECAUSE OUR FLT IS PLANNED AT LOW ALT AND VIA A RTE WHICH NEARS THE NW BOUNDARY OF THE NEW YORK TCA. OUR COMPANY IS UNABLE TO GET A HIGHER OR BETTER RTED FLT PLAN ON THESE DCA TO HPN FLTS. TCASII ONBOARD THE MDT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. BETTER ATC SEPARATION WOULD ALSO BE APPRECIATED. I ADJUST MY SEAT (TO A LESS COMFORTABLE) POS ON THESE PARTICULAR FLTS TO GIVE ME THE BEST 'SEE AND AVOID' VIEW. I TRY TO SPEND ALL MY TIME SCANNING FOR TFC AS WELL.

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.