VFR reporter saw air carrier descend through his altitude within 150 ft.

Attributes
ACN	286437
Time
Date	199410
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : rdu
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	286437
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 150 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was VFR on a heading of 016 degree VFR. I had flight following from cre through fay. I could not get raleigh to answer. I looked out the right window and saw an agr jet fill the window. In a split second I was able to determine that he was descending and would barely pass behind me. I turned right and then back on course when he was behind me. I doubt the crew even saw me since the sunset would have been just about in their faces. I had my navigation lights and strobes on. Since their flight was obviously IFR, I don't understand why the controller didn't change their course. And what about TCASII? I was monitoring approach controller and never heard a word. What I learned from this is to fly direct to rdu which is out of their approach pattern. I don't know how I could have seen them any sooner since they apparently came from my right rear.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR RPTR SAW ACR DSND THROUGH HIS ALT WITHIN 150 FT.

Narrative: I WAS VFR ON A HDG OF 016 DEG VFR. I HAD FLT FOLLOWING FROM CRE THROUGH FAY. I COULD NOT GET RALEIGH TO ANSWER. I LOOKED OUT THE R WINDOW AND SAW AN AGR JET FILL THE WINDOW. IN A SPLIT SECOND I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT HE WAS DSNDING AND WOULD BARELY PASS BEHIND ME. I TURNED R AND THEN BACK ON COURSE WHEN HE WAS BEHIND ME. I DOUBT THE CREW EVEN SAW ME SINCE THE SUNSET WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST ABOUT IN THEIR FACES. I HAD MY NAV LIGHTS AND STROBES ON. SINCE THEIR FLT WAS OBVIOUSLY IFR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CTLR DIDN'T CHANGE THEIR COURSE. AND WHAT ABOUT TCASII? I WAS MONITORING APCH CTLR AND NEVER HEARD A WORD. WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS IS TO FLY DIRECT TO RDU WHICH IS OUT OF THEIR APCH PATTERN. I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE SEEN THEM ANY SOONER SINCE THEY APPARENTLY CAME FROM MY RIGHT REAR.

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.