Near midair collision between an medium large transport and a glider.

Attributes
ACN	286021
Time
Date	199410
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10300
ASRS Report	286021
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 other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We had just leveled off at 8000 ft MSL, established on the localizer for runway 30L at sjc we were still with ZOA at this point (approximately 32 mi on the sjc VOR). First officer was flying. I spotted a glider at our 12 O'clock position slightly below us, and called it to the first officer. He said he did not see the traffic (nothing on TCASII at any time). The glider then pitched up into an aerobatic maneuver somewhat resembling an immelmann turn, that put him at our altitude, nose-to-nose with us. I took control of our aircraft, rolled 45 degrees right and pitched down to dive away from the traffic. He must have seen us also, because he started a right turn at about the same time, turning away from us. The glider went by our left side, and I thought we were going to hit. However, after a few seconds, when no collision occurred, I recovered from our maneuver, turned back toward the localizer, and then gave control back to the first officer. Remainder of the approach and landing were without incident. I reported the incident to ATC and company, and an near midair collision report was filed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BTWN AN MLG AND A GLIDER.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT 8000 FT MSL, ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC FOR RWY 30L AT SJC WE WERE STILL WITH ZOA AT THIS POINT (APPROX 32 MI ON THE SJC VOR). FO WAS FLYING. I SPOTTED A GLIDER AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POS SLIGHTLY BELOW US, AND CALLED IT TO THE FO. HE SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE TFC (NOTHING ON TCASII AT ANY TIME). THE GLIDER THEN PITCHED UP INTO AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER SOMEWHAT RESEMBLING AN IMMELMANN TURN, THAT PUT HIM AT OUR ALT, NOSE-TO-NOSE WITH US. I TOOK CTL OF OUR ACFT, ROLLED 45 DEGS R AND PITCHED DOWN TO DIVE AWAY FROM THE TFC. HE MUST HAVE SEEN US ALSO, BECAUSE HE STARTED A R TURN AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, TURNING AWAY FROM US. THE GLIDER WENT BY OUR L SIDE, AND I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HIT. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW SECONDS, WHEN NO COLLISION OCCURRED, I RECOVERED FROM OUR MANEUVER, TURNED BACK TOWARD THE LOC, AND THEN GAVE CTL BACK TO THE FO. REMAINDER OF THE APCH AND LNDG WERE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I RPTED THE INCIDENT TO ATC AND COMPANY, AND AN NMAC RPT WAS FILED.

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.