Narrative:

We were receiving advisories from bos departure/bdl approach, en route bos direct bdl. Box told us to squawk 1200 and attempt bdl on 123.95. Before attempting contact with bdl, I switched frequencys to pick up ATIS. ATIS frequency was barely readable, which necessitated listening for 2-3 mins prior to attempting contact with bdl. At about the end of this 2-3 min period, first officer saw aircraft at 9 O'clock. There was no time to react. The aircraft may have been spotted by me if I had not spent so much time trying to pick up the ATIS prior to attempting contacting bdl approach. In the future, I will attempt contact sooner, and worry about the ATIS later. By contacting approach sooner, the controller may have been able to point out the traffic to us.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER SMT HAS NMAC NEARING DEST ARPT.

Narrative: WE WERE RECEIVING ADVISORIES FROM BOS DEP/BDL APCH, ENRTE BOS DIRECT BDL. BOX TOLD US TO SQUAWK 1200 AND ATTEMPT BDL ON 123.95. BEFORE ATTEMPTING CONTACT WITH BDL, I SWITCHED FREQS TO PICK UP ATIS. ATIS FREQ WAS BARELY READABLE, WHICH NECESSITATED LISTENING FOR 2-3 MINS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING CONTACT WITH BDL. AT ABOUT THE END OF THIS 2-3 MIN PERIOD, FO SAW ACFT AT 9 O'CLOCK. THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. THE ACFT MAY HAVE BEEN SPOTTED BY ME IF I HAD NOT SPENT SO MUCH TIME TRYING TO PICK UP THE ATIS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING CONTACTING BDL APCH. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ATTEMPT CONTACT SOONER, AND WORRY ABOUT THE ATIS LATER. BY CONTACTING APCH SOONER, THE CTLR MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO POINT OUT THE TFC TO US.

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.