Pilot in BE55 descending on arrival to F54 encountered a PA38 head-on.

Attributes
ACN	409904
Time
Date	199808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw airport : f54
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	PA-38 Tomahawk
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 275 flight time type : 11
ASRS Report	409904
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 none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 10
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While descending on arrival into arlington (F54) to avoid class B airspace, we encountered a tomahawk head-on. At a closure rate of approximately 300 mph and a distance of about 1 mi when we first saw the traffic, we barely had enough time to avoid each other. The other aircraft diverted to the left, and we responded the same flying within 200 ft of the other aircraft. Future preventive action: scan for traffic!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN BE55 DSNDING ON ARR TO F54 ENCOUNTERED A PA38 HEAD-ON.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING ON ARR INTO ARLINGTON (F54) TO AVOID CLASS B AIRSPACE, WE ENCOUNTERED A TOMAHAWK HEAD-ON. AT A CLOSURE RATE OF APPROX 300 MPH AND A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1 MI WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE TFC, WE BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO AVOID EACH OTHER. THE OTHER ACFT DIVERTED TO THE L, AND WE RESPONDED THE SAME FLYING WITHIN 200 FT OF THE OTHER ACFT. FUTURE PREVENTIVE ACTION: SCAN FOR TFC!

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.