Small aircraft operated on an airway in close proximity to a busy arsa without ATC contact.

Attributes
ACN	238523
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli airport : toa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : las
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v8
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 290 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	238523
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was on V8 from pdz VOR en route to sli VOR. I had started a descent from 6500 ft to 4000 ft. During my descent, I noticed a total of (3) other aircraft in vicinity. Aircraft 1 appeared to be an medium large transport, parallel to my course, slightly below me and about 1 1/2 mi to my left side. He turned left and appeared headed to sna airport, orange county. Approximately 1 min later, I saw an air carrier a medium large transport approximately 500 ft below me, about less than a mi to my left, but on a generally reciprocal heading to my own. He was close enough for me to read 'air carrier a airlines' on the side of the fuselage. Aircraft #3 appeared to be another medium large transport. I was able to see the logo, but could not make it out. He followed air carrier a into sna. My flight was under VFR rules and conditions. I was established on V8 at 4500 ft swbound. I did have a flight plan on file from palm springs to torrance, but I was not using VFR flight following. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: counseled reporter about flying close to TCAS and arsas. Considering his low time, he seems to be very careful and safety conscious.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA OPERATED ON AN AIRWAY IN CLOSE PROX TO A BUSY ARSA WITHOUT ATC CONTACT.

Narrative: I WAS ON V8 FROM PDZ VOR ENRTE TO SLI VOR. I HAD STARTED A DSCNT FROM 6500 FT TO 4000 FT. DURING MY DSCNT, I NOTICED A TOTAL OF (3) OTHER ACFT IN VICINITY. ACFT 1 APPEARED TO BE AN MLG, PARALLEL TO MY COURSE, SLIGHTLY BELOW ME AND ABOUT 1 1/2 MI TO MY L SIDE. HE TURNED L AND APPEARED HEADED TO SNA ARPT, ORANGE COUNTY. APPROX 1 MIN LATER, I SAW AN ACR A MLG APPROX 500 FT BELOW ME, ABOUT LESS THAN A MI TO MY L, BUT ON A GENERALLY RECIPROCAL HDG TO MY OWN. HE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ME TO READ 'ACR A AIRLINES' ON THE SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. ACFT #3 APPEARED TO BE ANOTHER MLG. I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE LOGO, BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT OUT. HE FOLLOWED ACR A INTO SNA. MY FLT WAS UNDER VFR RULES AND CONDITIONS. I WAS ESTABLISHED ON V8 AT 4500 FT SWBOUND. I DID HAVE A FLT PLAN ON FILE FROM PALM SPRINGS TO TORRANCE, BUT I WAS NOT USING VFR FLT FOLLOWING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: COUNSELED RPTR ABOUT FLYING CLOSE TO TCAS AND ARSAS. CONSIDERING HIS LOW TIME, HE SEEMS TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND SAFETY CONSCIOUS.

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.