Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight from van nuys to john wayne airport about a mi off the coast level cruise, 3500 MSL, 090 degree heading, 130 KTS in contact with coast approach 124.65. Approach called out traffic at 12 and 10 O'clock. I saw an medium large transport high at 12 (no factor) and a red light single at 10 (no factor). Within seconds a third plane small aircraft appeared at 11 O'clock, 3500 MSL, approximately 220 degree heading. I judged I would pass behind and started to bank left, but by that time I felt his wake and was already past him. Coast guard told me I could descend to 3000 MSL. Observations: I was amazed how fast we closed and how little time there was to react. I was surprised to see a third plane when 2 were called out and I was watching 2. I have relived this event many times over the past 2 days. This is a high density area, I'm a CFI and I teach in this area all the time, but I hadn't seen anything this close. I was at the right altitude, had the right of way, and had radar traffic but could have been history! Recommendations: the flight schools from the south basin need a few more isolated practice areas.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 SMAS HAD AN NMAC IN AN 'OTHER CTLED AIRSPACE.' ATC DID NOT SEE THE INTRUDER ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT FROM VAN NUYS TO JOHN WAYNE ARPT ABOUT A MI OFF THE COAST LEVEL CRUISE, 3500 MSL, 090 DEG HDG, 130 KTS IN CONTACT WITH COAST APCH 124.65. APCH CALLED OUT TFC AT 12 AND 10 O'CLOCK. I SAW AN MLG HIGH AT 12 (NO FACTOR) AND A RED LIGHT SINGLE AT 10 (NO FACTOR). WITHIN SECONDS A THIRD PLANE SMA APPEARED AT 11 O'CLOCK, 3500 MSL, APPROX 220 DEG HDG. I JUDGED I WOULD PASS BEHIND AND STARTED TO BANK L, BUT BY THAT TIME I FELT HIS WAKE AND WAS ALREADY PAST HIM. COAST GUARD TOLD ME I COULD DSND TO 3000 MSL. OBSERVATIONS: I WAS AMAZED HOW FAST WE CLOSED AND HOW LITTLE TIME THERE WAS TO REACT. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A THIRD PLANE WHEN 2 WERE CALLED OUT AND I WAS WATCHING 2. I HAVE RELIVED THIS EVENT MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 DAYS. THIS IS A HIGH DENSITY AREA, I'M A CFI AND I TEACH IN THIS AREA ALL THE TIME, BUT I HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING THIS CLOSE. I WAS AT THE RIGHT ALT, HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND HAD RADAR TFC BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HISTORY! RECOMMENDATIONS: THE FLT SCHOOLS FROM THE S BASIN NEED A FEW MORE ISOLATED PRACTICE AREAS.

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.