Light transport descends to avoid head-on VFR traffic.

Attributes
ACN	215269
Time
Date	199207
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gnv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
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 : on vectors enroute airway : zjx
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
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 : 300 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	215269
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on radar vectors around traffic we were alerted to VFR traffic 12 O'clock 2 mi opposite direction. Traffic was sighted head-on and evasive action taken. I alerted center that I was descending to avoid traffic and was told by a second voice (supervisor?) that I was not clear of IFR traffic or cleared to descend. I responded that I was avoiding a head-on with VFR traffic. I was then told to resume 3000 ft when able. The controller working the sector was slow to give evasive instruction for traffic avoidance. Thus forcing deviation from an IFR altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT DSNDS TO AVOID HEAD-ON VFR TFC.

Narrative: WHILE ON RADAR VECTORS AROUND TFC WE WERE ALERTED TO VFR TFC 12 O'CLOCK 2 MI OPPOSITE DIRECTION. TFC WAS SIGHTED HEAD-ON AND EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. I ALERTED CTR THAT I WAS DSNDING TO AVOID TFC AND WAS TOLD BY A SECOND VOICE (SUPVR?) THAT I WAS NOT CLR OF IFR TFC OR CLRED TO DSND. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS AVOIDING A HEAD-ON WITH VFR TFC. I WAS THEN TOLD TO RESUME 3000 FT WHEN ABLE. THE CTLR WORKING THE SECTOR WAS SLOW TO GIVE EVASIVE INSTRUCTION FOR TFC AVOIDANCE. THUS FORCING DEV FROM AN IFR 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.