Conflict with aircraft descending through clouds.

Attributes
ACN	254048
Time
Date	199310
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sfo tower : sdf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 81 flight time type : 9
ASRS Report	254048
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 8000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had just finished touring over san francisco at approximately XA20 pm. Proceeded south with our destination being sjc following the instructions of sfo tower to 'remain right of 101.' then sfo tower gave us 'own navigation proceed direct to sjc.' this turned out to be the beginning of the problem. We continued direct to sjc, which took us over the northwest part of sfo with no incoming traffic in sight. Then, at about a distance of 3- 5 mi southeast of sfo, the tower requested us to make right turn to follow 101. Just after that communication, I saw the lights of the medium large transport show up below the clouds. I had already complied with redirecting my course over 101 and never came any closer than 8000 ft horizontal to the medium large transport. I believe that I should never have been allowed 'own navigation' if it was going to leave a chance of alarming the medium large transport pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFLICT WITH ACFT DSNDING THROUGH CLOUDS.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST FINISHED TOURING OVER SAN FRANCISCO AT APPROX XA20 PM. PROCEEDED S WITH OUR DEST BEING SJC FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF SFO TWR TO 'REMAIN R OF 101.' THEN SFO TWR GAVE US 'OWN NAV PROCEED DIRECT TO SJC.' THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROB. WE CONTINUED DIRECT TO SJC, WHICH TOOK US OVER THE NW PART OF SFO WITH NO INCOMING TFC IN SIGHT. THEN, AT ABOUT A DISTANCE OF 3- 5 MI SE OF SFO, THE TWR REQUESTED US TO MAKE R TURN TO FOLLOW 101. JUST AFTER THAT COM, I SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE MLG SHOW UP BELOW THE CLOUDS. I HAD ALREADY COMPLIED WITH REDIRECTING MY COURSE OVER 101 AND NEVER CAME ANY CLOSER THAN 8000 FT HORIZ TO THE MLG. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED 'OWN NAV' IF IT WAS GOING TO LEAVE A CHANCE OF ALARMING THE MLG PLT.

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.