An air carrier medium large transport and an small aircraft had an near midair collision at night at...

Attributes
ACN	226063
Time
Date	199211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 5600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	226063
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While shooting a visual approach to runway 11L at ktus on an IFR flight plan, tucson approach control advised of an small aircraft and that he had us in sight. We replied that we did not have the small aircraft in sight. A moment later, as we turned onto final approach, the small aircraft passed directly underneath our airplane at 100 ft or less beneath us. It was a clear, dark night with bright lights on the ground, and the small aircraft had only dim wingtip position lights illuminated, making him effectively invisible. It is clear that even if the small aircraft did have us in sight, he was unable to provide separation. I suggest that the regulations be changed so that in a similar situation, ATC be required to maintain separation unless both airplanes have the other one in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG AND AN SMA HAD AN NMAC AT NIGHT AT TUS.

Narrative: WHILE SHOOTING A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 11L AT KTUS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, TUCSON APCH CTL ADVISED OF AN SMA AND THAT HE HAD US IN SIGHT. WE REPLIED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE SMA IN SIGHT. A MOMENT LATER, AS WE TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH, THE SMA PASSED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH OUR AIRPLANE AT 100 FT OR LESS BENEATH US. IT WAS A CLR, DARK NIGHT WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE GND, AND THE SMA HAD ONLY DIM WINGTIP POS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, MAKING HIM EFFECTIVELY INVISIBLE. IT IS CLR THAT EVEN IF THE SMA DID HAVE US IN SIGHT, HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SEPARATION. I SUGGEST THAT THE REGS BE CHANGED SO THAT IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, ATC BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION UNLESS BOTH AIRPLANES HAVE THE OTHER ONE IN SIGHT.

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.

An air carrier medium large transport and an small aircraft had an near midair collision at night at tus.