A student pilot experienced an near midair collision near wlw, ca.

Attributes
ACN	601596
Time
Date	200312
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : wlw.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23.5 flight time total : 49.1 flight time type : 49.1
ASRS Report	601596
Person 2
Function	oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Departed wlw, true course 171 degrees. Approximately 12-15 mi out, leveled off at 4500 ft to evaluate distance from, and movement of scattered clouds. After determining that the clouds were no factor, I looked at my sectional chart (located in the right seat) to check my position using landmarks. I looked up out the right side of the windshield and right door to see a single engine, low wing, white and red airplane pass by. The pilot of that aircraft did not appear to be taking evasive acton when I sighted him, nor did I. I descended to 3500 ft and the flight concluded uneventfully. I was distraction by my concern for avoiding the clouds in the area, then by being overly concerned with my correct position along the flight path. This was my first solo cross country. To prevent a similar occurrence, I suggest leveling off at the appropriate altitudes for the heading being flown, the step climbing to the next altitude when trying to evaluate distance from clouds, as I was. This route had ample significant landmarks that did not necessitate the time I spent looking at the chart. I sincerely regret any real or perceived danger to those in the other airplane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A STUDENT PLT EXPERIENCED AN NMAC NEAR WLW, CA.

Narrative: DEPARTED WLW, TRUE COURSE 171 DEGS. APPROX 12-15 MI OUT, LEVELED OFF AT 4500 FT TO EVALUATE DISTANCE FROM, AND MOVEMENT OF SCATTERED CLOUDS. AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE CLOUDS WERE NO FACTOR, I LOOKED AT MY SECTIONAL CHART (LOCATED IN THE R SEAT) TO CHK MY POS USING LANDMARKS. I LOOKED UP OUT THE R SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND R DOOR TO SEE A SINGLE ENG, LOW WING, WHITE AND RED AIRPLANE PASS BY. THE PLT OF THAT ACFT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE TAKING EVASIVE ACTON WHEN I SIGHTED HIM, NOR DID I. I DSNDED TO 3500 FT AND THE FLT CONCLUDED UNEVENTFULLY. I WAS DISTR BY MY CONCERN FOR AVOIDING THE CLOUDS IN THE AREA, THEN BY BEING OVERLY CONCERNED WITH MY CORRECT POS ALONG THE FLT PATH. THIS WAS MY FIRST SOLO XCOUNTRY. TO PREVENT A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE, I SUGGEST LEVELING OFF AT THE APPROPRIATE ALTS FOR THE HEADING BEING FLOWN, THE STEP CLBING TO THE NEXT ALT WHEN TRYING TO EVALUATE DISTANCE FROM CLOUDS, AS I WAS. THIS RTE HAD AMPLE SIGNIFICANT LANDMARKS THAT DID NOT NECESSITATE THE TIME I SPENT LOOKING AT THE CHART. I SINCERELY REGRET ANY REAL OR PERCEIVED DANGER TO THOSE IN THE OTHER AIRPLANE.

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.