A C172 private non IFR rated pilot requests a turn and climb to avoid opposite direction climbing traffic, near patrick AFB, while on ATC vectors to mlb fl.

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Attributes
ACN	523581
Time
Date	200107
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlb.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab.tracon tower : sea.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab.tracon
Make Model Name	Widebody Transport
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18.3 flight time total : 285.7
ASRS Report	523581
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The subsequent approach into tix was uneventful. I removed my hood and opted to return to mlb for a visual approach. I'm glad I didn't cancel IFR as there were numerous VFR targets for ATC to point out. Approximately 10 mi northwest of mlb heading 180 degrees at 2100 ft, dab called out traffic at 11 O'clock position, 3 mi opposite direction 1900 ft type unknown. We spotted the traffic altitude on a possible collision course and requested a small turn to the right. As soon as we completed the turn we noticed the traffic had also turned -- in our direction. I requested an immediate climb and was given 3000 ft. I now found myself staring into the traffic's landing light with the space between its navigation lights noticeably expanding. I quickly reported to ATC that the opposing traffic was climbing, matching us foot for foot. We were given an immediate 90 degree right turn and the traffic shortly passed within a half mi behind. ATC mentioned that the aircraft was not in communication with them and I replied that I'd never before seen an aircraft try so hard to kill me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PVT NON IFR RATED PLT REQUESTS A TURN AND CLB TO AVOID OPPOSITE DIRECTION CLBING TFC, NEAR PATRICK AFB, WHILE ON ATC VECTORS TO MLB FL.

Narrative: THE SUBSEQUENT APCH INTO TIX WAS UNEVENTFUL. I REMOVED MY HOOD AND OPTED TO RETURN TO MLB FOR A VISUAL APCH. I'M GLAD I DIDN'T CANCEL IFR AS THERE WERE NUMEROUS VFR TARGETS FOR ATC TO POINT OUT. APPROX 10 MI NW OF MLB HEADING 180 DEGS AT 2100 FT, DAB CALLED OUT TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK POS, 3 MI OPPOSITE DIRECTION 1900 FT TYPE UNKNOWN. WE SPOTTED THE TFC ALT ON A POSSIBLE COLLISION COURSE AND REQUESTED A SMALL TURN TO THE R. AS SOON AS WE COMPLETED THE TURN WE NOTICED THE TFC HAD ALSO TURNED -- IN OUR DIRECTION. I REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE CLB AND WAS GIVEN 3000 FT. I NOW FOUND MYSELF STARING INTO THE TFC'S LNDG LIGHT WITH THE SPACE BTWN ITS NAV LIGHTS NOTICEABLY EXPANDING. I QUICKLY RPTED TO ATC THAT THE OPPOSING TFC WAS CLBING, MATCHING US FOOT FOR FOOT. WE WERE GIVEN AN IMMEDIATE 90 DEG R TURN AND THE TFC SHORTLY PASSED WITHIN A HALF MI BEHIND. ATC MENTIONED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT IN COM WITH THEM AND I REPLIED THAT I'D NEVER BEFORE SEEN AN ACFT TRY SO HARD TO KILL ME.

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.