A C172 pilot reports an near midair collision with a BE55 that started while he was tuning his radio...

Attributes
ACN	389622
Time
Date	199712
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pbi airport : f45
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 230 flight time type : 38
ASRS Report	389622
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 45
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed runway 31 at F45 and turned for an eastbound departure. As I departed the traffic pattern, I looked down a moment to tune my radio to the palm beach approach control frequency. As I looked back up, I saw the baron in my left seat window and I immediately rationalized that it was a serious conflict. I banked the plane slightly right, and began an emergency descent. I descended about 200-300 ft, looked over to my right, and saw the baron passing me directly overhead. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT RPTS AN NMAC WITH A BE55 THAT STARTED WHILE HE WAS TUNING HIS RADIO.

Narrative: I DEPARTED RWY 31 AT F45 AND TURNED FOR AN EBOUND DEP. AS I DEPARTED THE TFC PATTERN, I LOOKED DOWN A MOMENT TO TUNE MY RADIO TO THE PALM BEACH APCH CTL FREQ. AS I LOOKED BACK UP, I SAW THE BARON IN MY L SEAT WINDOW AND I IMMEDIATELY RATIONALIZED THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS CONFLICT. I BANKED THE PLANE SLIGHTLY R, AND BEGAN AN EMER DSCNT. I DSNDED ABOUT 200-300 FT, LOOKED OVER TO MY R, AND SAW THE BARON PASSING ME DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.