A pilot flying into mri has an near midair collision with a J3 while in contact with mri tower.

Attributes
ACN	630294
Time
Date	200409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mri.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mri.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : mri.tower
Make Model Name	PA-18/19 Super Cub
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	630294
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Miss Distance	vertical : 50
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approaching anc from the wnw inbound for merrill field. At approximately 13 NM out (mouth of little susitna river), I picked up mri ATIS and switched to tower frequency. As I reached ft mackenzie, I called tower for landing and also requested a part 93 deviation, so I could cross the water at a safer altitude, which in this case, I was indicating 1000 ft MSL. I received my landing instructions from the tower and was granted the deviation. Moments later, the tower called me stating he didn't know exactly where I was at, but that there was traffic close by at an unknown altitude. (My aircraft is without transponder.) I called back 'looking,' and then saw a super cub at my 8 O'clock position, about his 1-2 O'clock position. I was approximately 50 ft above his altitude. We were on a collision course but the altitude difference was enough to avoid each other. From the time that I first saw the other aircraft until we were no longer a factor in each other's flight was maybe 2-3 seconds. There was virtually no time to create more spacing between us, and thankfully not needed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT FLYING INTO MRI HAS AN NMAC WITH A J3 WHILE IN CONTACT WITH MRI TWR.

Narrative: APCHING ANC FROM THE WNW INBOUND FOR MERRILL FIELD. AT APPROX 13 NM OUT (MOUTH OF LITTLE SUSITNA RIVER), I PICKED UP MRI ATIS AND SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ. AS I REACHED FT MACKENZIE, I CALLED TWR FOR LNDG AND ALSO REQUESTED A PART 93 DEV, SO I COULD CROSS THE WATER AT A SAFER ALT, WHICH IN THIS CASE, I WAS INDICATING 1000 FT MSL. I RECEIVED MY LNDG INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TWR AND WAS GRANTED THE DEV. MOMENTS LATER, THE TWR CALLED ME STATING HE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AT, BUT THAT THERE WAS TFC CLOSE BY AT AN UNKNOWN ALT. (MY ACFT IS WITHOUT XPONDER.) I CALLED BACK 'LOOKING,' AND THEN SAW A SUPER CUB AT MY 8 O'CLOCK POS, ABOUT HIS 1-2 O'CLOCK POS. I WAS APPROX 50 FT ABOVE HIS ALT. WE WERE ON A COLLISION COURSE BUT THE ALT DIFFERENCE WAS ENOUGH TO AVOID EACH OTHER. FROM THE TIME THAT I FIRST SAW THE OTHER ACFT UNTIL WE WERE NO LONGER A FACTOR IN EACH OTHER'S FLT WAS MAYBE 2-3 SECONDS. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO TIME TO CREATE MORE SPACING BTWN US, AND THANKFULLY NOT NEEDED.

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.