Sct approach controller issues safety alert separating an en route AA5 from a PA28.

Attributes
ACN	581639
Time
Date	200305
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : toa.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1900 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	581639
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : separated traffic flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Returning from the french valley airport to toa using flight following from socal approach. Just as I was released to begin descent below 3000 ft (a previously assigned restr requested by socal), socal provided a TA, a cherokee 3 mi at 9-10 O'clock, 1900 ft descending. A little later, a second advisory came. This time, socal reported that the plane had me in sight. I replied to both reports with 'looking, not in sight.' then socal said 'ok, let's declare a little emergency here, give me maximum climb (or something close) for spacing.' I complied, and almost immediately saw the traffic well clear to my left and lower, which I reported. Socal then said proceed pilot's discretion, squawk VFR, change to the tower. This is being reported, because the controller 'called a little emergency.' he obviously thought it proper, so there might have been the possibility for an undesired consequence. I don't believe either plane was in any actual danger, but was happy to have the assistance. The system worked, and we are all grateful for that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SCT APCH CTLR ISSUES SAFETY ALERT SEPARATING AN ENRTE AA5 FROM A PA28.

Narrative: RETURNING FROM THE FRENCH VALLEY ARPT TO TOA USING FLT FOLLOWING FROM SOCAL APCH. JUST AS I WAS RELEASED TO BEGIN DSCNT BELOW 3000 FT (A PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED RESTR REQUESTED BY SOCAL), SOCAL PROVIDED A TA, A CHEROKEE 3 MI AT 9-10 O'CLOCK, 1900 FT DSNDING. A LITTLE LATER, A SECOND ADVISORY CAME. THIS TIME, SOCAL RPTED THAT THE PLANE HAD ME IN SIGHT. I REPLIED TO BOTH RPTS WITH 'LOOKING, NOT IN SIGHT.' THEN SOCAL SAID 'OK, LET'S DECLARE A LITTLE EMER HERE, GIVE ME MAX CLB (OR SOMETHING CLOSE) FOR SPACING.' I COMPLIED, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SAW THE TFC WELL CLR TO MY L AND LOWER, WHICH I RPTED. SOCAL THEN SAID PROCEED PLT'S DISCRETION, SQUAWK VFR, CHANGE TO THE TWR. THIS IS BEING RPTED, BECAUSE THE CTLR 'CALLED A LITTLE EMER.' HE OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT IT PROPER, SO THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR AN UNDESIRED CONSEQUENCE. I DON'T BELIEVE EITHER PLANE WAS IN ANY ACTUAL DANGER, BUT WAS HAPPY TO HAVE THE ASSISTANCE. THE SYS WORKED, AND WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

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.