Light aircraft departure from vgt experienced conflict with blimp on ATC assigned heading at 3400 ft...

Attributes
ACN	604350
Time
Date	200401
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 3400
Environment
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Other
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 3450
ASRS Report	604350
Person 2
Affiliation	company other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

I was given departure instructions of runway heading turning right to 220 degrees. As I started to level off at 3400 ft directly into the sun, I spotted a blimp. The controller assigned me on a direct collision course with the blimp. I then exercised my emergency pilot's authority/authorized to prevent a collision and turned to 250 degrees and climbed to higher altitude to avoid collision. I attempted to reach controller but he was extremely busy and I did not reach him. By that time, according to my moving map, I was out of class B airspace and started climbing to avoid running into mountains. Having a stationary object like the blimp and airplane traveling at 160 KTS it seemed like the blimp appeared out of nowhere and, with the sun causing an obstruction, no one should have this experience. Under these conditions, the controller should advise the pilots of such objects.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT ACFT DEP FROM VGT EXPERIENCED CONFLICT WITH BLIMP ON ATC ASSIGNED HDG AT 3400 FT.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN DEP INSTRUCTIONS OF RWY HDG TURNING R TO 220 DEGS. AS I STARTED TO LEVEL OFF AT 3400 FT DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN, I SPOTTED A BLIMP. THE CTLR ASSIGNED ME ON A DIRECT COLLISION COURSE WITH THE BLIMP. I THEN EXERCISED MY EMER PLT'S AUTH TO PREVENT A COLLISION AND TURNED TO 250 DEGS AND CLBED TO HIGHER ALT TO AVOID COLLISION. I ATTEMPTED TO REACH CTLR BUT HE WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND I DID NOT REACH HIM. BY THAT TIME, ACCORDING TO MY MOVING MAP, I WAS OUT OF CLASS B AIRSPACE AND STARTED CLBING TO AVOID RUNNING INTO MOUNTAINS. HAVING A STATIONARY OBJECT LIKE THE BLIMP AND AIRPLANE TRAVELING AT 160 KTS IT SEEMED LIKE THE BLIMP APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE AND, WITH THE SUN CAUSING AN OBSTRUCTION, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, THE CTLR SHOULD ADVISE THE PLTS OF SUCH OBJECTS.

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.