Pilot makes close approach to another aircraft in see and avoid situation in smf airspace.

Attributes
ACN	413683
Time
Date	199809
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mhr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : smf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 3310 flight time type : 1715
ASRS Report	413683
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

En route from rno to ccr (210 degree heading) northeast of mather airport, while descending 10500 ft down to 6500 ft, nearing 8000 ft sac approach reported traffic 4 mi, 1 O'clock, sbound, 7500 ft (not in sight), maintain 8000 ft. Sac approach reported traffic (1-2 O'clock) 2 mi, 7500 ft. I have traffic in sight and sac approach canceled altitude restr and to continue descent and change to next sector frequency. New controller also confirmed I had the traffic in sight. The traffic (cherokee) was being overtaken by an estimated 60 mph and gave the illusion we were on a parallel course. Being intent on maintaining course heading and continuing descent, I crossed under the cherokee, estimate 300-500 ft, having traffic in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT MAKES CLOSE APCH TO ANOTHER ACFT IN SEE AND AVOID SIT IN SMF AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM RNO TO CCR (210 DEG HDG) NE OF MATHER ARPT, WHILE DSNDING 10500 FT DOWN TO 6500 FT, NEARING 8000 FT SAC APCH RPTED TFC 4 MI, 1 O'CLOCK, SBOUND, 7500 FT (NOT IN SIGHT), MAINTAIN 8000 FT. SAC APCH RPTED TFC (1-2 O'CLOCK) 2 MI, 7500 FT. I HAVE TFC IN SIGHT AND SAC APCH CANCELED ALT RESTR AND TO CONTINUE DSCNT AND CHANGE TO NEXT SECTOR FREQ. NEW CTLR ALSO CONFIRMED I HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. THE TFC (CHEROKEE) WAS BEING OVERTAKEN BY AN ESTIMATED 60 MPH AND GAVE THE ILLUSION WE WERE ON A PARALLEL COURSE. BEING INTENT ON MAINTAINING COURSE HDG AND CONTINUING DSCNT, I CROSSED UNDER THE CHEROKEE, ESTIMATE 300-500 FT, HAVING TFC IN SIGHT.

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.