PA28 on IFR approach into DCU has a conflict with an F18 climbing through his altitude.

Attributes
ACN	577787
Time
Date	200303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hsv.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision approach other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hsv.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hornet (F-18)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 1.5 flight time total : 272 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	577787
Person 2
Function	observation : observer other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

At about XA30 local time, I was on the VOR runway 18 approach to decatur, al. I was at 2400 ft MSL outbound on the 351 degree radial, about 3 NM from DCU VOR. I heard huntsville approach control calling another aircraft saying, '...traffic 1 NM at 12 O'clock position, a cherokee, suggest you climb immediately.' my safety pilot and I looked up to see an FA18 climbing from below our altitude, passing off our 1 O'clock position at about 3000 ft separation. Later, while I was completing the approach, I heard huntsville ask the pilot if he saw my aircraft on his radar. The pilot replied, 'uh...yes.' the WX was 2600 ft broken, 10 mi visibility. I was on an IFR flight plan, in controled airspace. I don't know how ATC failed to keep separation. The FA18 was evidently below our altitude, so my safety pilot could not see him over the nose of our aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 ON IFR APCH INTO DCU HAS A CONFLICT WITH AN F18 CLBING THROUGH HIS ALT.

Narrative: AT ABOUT XA30 LCL TIME, I WAS ON THE VOR RWY 18 APCH TO DECATUR, AL. I WAS AT 2400 FT MSL OUTBOUND ON THE 351 DEG RADIAL, ABOUT 3 NM FROM DCU VOR. I HEARD HUNTSVILLE APCH CTL CALLING ANOTHER ACFT SAYING, '...TFC 1 NM AT 12 O'CLOCK POS, A CHEROKEE, SUGGEST YOU CLB IMMEDIATELY.' MY SAFETY PLT AND I LOOKED UP TO SEE AN FA18 CLBING FROM BELOW OUR ALT, PASSING OFF OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS AT ABOUT 3000 FT SEPARATION. LATER, WHILE I WAS COMPLETING THE APCH, I HEARD HUNTSVILLE ASK THE PLT IF HE SAW MY ACFT ON HIS RADAR. THE PLT REPLIED, 'UH...YES.' THE WX WAS 2600 FT BROKEN, 10 MI VISIBILITY. I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, IN CTLED AIRSPACE. I DON'T KNOW HOW ATC FAILED TO KEEP SEPARATION. THE FA18 WAS EVIDENTLY BELOW OUR ALT, SO MY SAFETY PLT COULD NOT SEE HIM OVER THE NOSE OF OUR 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.