Narrative:

2 aircraft were in practice holding patterns over vwv. I (N1) was at 2800 ft, just below a scattered cloud layer at maybe 3500 ft. The other (N2) C172 was in the same hold (published on the VOR 18 approach to 1g0) at 2200 ft. A third aircraft (N3) on an IFR plan, arrived in the area to execute the approach. N2 was instructed to temporarily leave the hold to allow N3 to approach at 2200 ft (the minimum crossing altitude for the approach). At this time I requested to complete the approach also, and after passing the VOR and turning outbound, was cleared to do so. N3 had by this time passed the FAF (the VOR) inbound, and I was cleared to descend and execute the approach at the next inbound pass over the VOR. Soon thereafter, the controller cleared N2 back into the hold at 2200 ft. This created a problem, as we were now both on converging courses at the same altitude. As I approached vwv, I briefly saw N2 to my rear left, and several seconds later directly in front and slightly below me. As N2 was a cessna, he could not see me. At this point I retracted my landing gear and flaps, applied full power, and made a climbing left turn (N2 was going off to the right). I then canceled radar service (the VOR is several mi beyond the class C airspace), and made a VFR approach to landing. I feel that the primary cause of this incident was an error on the part of the controller, as well as the poor visibility afforded by the light wing aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BTWN 2 HIGH WING SMA SELS VFR PRACTICING APCH HOLDING PATTERNS.

Narrative: 2 ACFT WERE IN PRACTICE HOLDING PATTERNS OVER VWV. I (N1) WAS AT 2800 FT, JUST BELOW A SCATTERED CLOUD LAYER AT MAYBE 3500 FT. THE OTHER (N2) C172 WAS IN THE SAME HOLD (PUBLISHED ON THE VOR 18 APCH TO 1G0) AT 2200 FT. A THIRD ACFT (N3) ON AN IFR PLAN, ARRIVED IN THE AREA TO EXECUTE THE APCH. N2 WAS INSTRUCTED TO TEMPORARILY LEAVE THE HOLD TO ALLOW N3 TO APCH AT 2200 FT (THE MINIMUM XING ALT FOR THE APCH). AT THIS TIME I REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE APCH ALSO, AND AFTER PASSING THE VOR AND TURNING OUTBOUND, WAS CLRED TO DO SO. N3 HAD BY THIS TIME PASSED THE FAF (THE VOR) INBOUND, AND I WAS CLRED TO DSND AND EXECUTE THE APCH AT THE NEXT INBOUND PASS OVER THE VOR. SOON THEREAFTER, THE CTLR CLRED N2 BACK INTO THE HOLD AT 2200 FT. THIS CREATED A PROB, AS WE WERE NOW BOTH ON CONVERGING COURSES AT THE SAME ALT. AS I APCHED VWV, I BRIEFLY SAW N2 TO MY REAR L, AND SEVERAL SECONDS LATER DIRECTLY IN FRONT AND SLIGHTLY BELOW ME. AS N2 WAS A CESSNA, HE COULD NOT SEE ME. AT THIS POINT I RETRACTED MY LNDG GEAR AND FLAPS, APPLIED FULL PWR, AND MADE A CLBING L TURN (N2 WAS GOING OFF TO THE R). I THEN CANCELED RADAR SVC (THE VOR IS SEVERAL MI BEYOND THE CLASS C AIRSPACE), AND MADE A VFR APCH TO LNDG. I FEEL THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS AN ERROR ON THE PART OF THE CTLR, AS WELL AS THE POOR VISIBILITY AFFORDED BY THE LIGHT WING ACFT.

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.