Narrative:

Approach had just cleared us from 8000 ft to 7000 ft and called 12 O'clock traffic. I spotted traffic at 12 O'clock higher and pointed it out to the first officer. The first officer asked ATC if our traffic was '12 O'clock higher, about 8000 ft.' ATC said, 'negative, your traffic is supposed to be 12 O'clock and 6000 ft.' the first officer said to ATC, 'we see traffic at 12 O'clock and at our same altitude coming right at us!' the first officer was referring to the same target we first thought was higher, it seemed to be descending right towards us as we were leveling at 7000 ft. The first officer started flashing 1 of our landing lights to try and get the other airplane pilot's attention. ATC came back and said, 'turn right, now, to heading 050.' before ATC could finish this statement I had to disengage our autoplt and take an immediate right diving turn to avoid a midair collision. The traffic passed just above and to the left of us. Once clear of the traffic, I immediately corrected our course and altitude, and the first officer advised ATC of our emergency deviation. I sincerely believe if I hadn't reacted when I did we would have had a midair collision. Once on the ground, several of our passenger stopped by the cockpit and told us they had seen the other aircraft pass by the left side very close.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPPOSITE DIRECTION ACFT TFC IN NMAC.

Narrative: APCH HAD JUST CLRED US FROM 8000 FT TO 7000 FT AND CALLED 12 O'CLOCK TFC. I SPOTTED TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK HIGHER AND POINTED IT OUT TO THE FO. THE FO ASKED ATC IF OUR TFC WAS '12 O'CLOCK HIGHER, ABOUT 8000 FT.' ATC SAID, 'NEGATIVE, YOUR TFC IS SUPPOSED TO BE 12 O'CLOCK AND 6000 FT.' THE FO SAID TO ATC, 'WE SEE TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK AND AT OUR SAME ALT COMING RIGHT AT US!' THE FO WAS REFERRING TO THE SAME TARGET WE FIRST THOUGHT WAS HIGHER, IT SEEMED TO BE DSNDING RIGHT TOWARDS US AS WE WERE LEVELING AT 7000 FT. THE FO STARTED FLASHING 1 OF OUR LNDG LIGHTS TO TRY AND GET THE OTHER AIRPLANE PLT'S ATTN. ATC CAME BACK AND SAID, 'TURN R, NOW, TO HDG 050.' BEFORE ATC COULD FINISH THIS STATEMENT I HAD TO DISENGAGE OUR AUTOPLT AND TAKE AN IMMEDIATE R DIVING TURN TO AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION. THE TFC PASSED JUST ABOVE AND TO THE L OF US. ONCE CLR OF THE TFC, I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED OUR COURSE AND ALT, AND THE FO ADVISED ATC OF OUR EMER DEV. I SINCERELY BELIEVE IF I HADN'T REACTED WHEN I DID WE WOULD HAVE HAD A MIDAIR COLLISION. ONCE ON THE GND, SEVERAL OF OUR PAX STOPPED BY THE COCKPIT AND TOLD US THEY HAD SEEN THE OTHER ACFT PASS BY THE L SIDE VERY CLOSE.

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.