C152 private pilot encounters near midair collision with a PA28 at 5000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	690788
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lsn.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 190 flight time type : 184
ASRS Report	690788
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 10
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After departing from merced; I commenced a climb while flying towards los banos to 6500 ft with a heading of 220 degrees. As I was contacting norcal approach at about 5000 ft MSL; very quickly; a PA28 appeared in my windscreen; and they pulled a hard left evasive turn. Though I was scanning for traffic; it must be no fault other than my own for not spotting the traffic during the climb. I was not in full communication with approach until after the incident. The situation unfolded so quickly that I did not do anything except continue climbing. Had I made a right turn I feel there would have been a collision; though if I did divert to the right; the other aircraft may have done so as well. However; I did not see the traffic in time to make corrective actions. This encounter has incredibly magnified the importance of situational awareness; as I am still shaken to think of the consequences had the other pilot not made corrective action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 PVT PLT ENCOUNTERS NMAC WITH A PA28 AT 5000 FT.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING FROM MERCED; I COMMENCED A CLB WHILE FLYING TOWARDS LOS BANOS TO 6500 FT WITH A HDG OF 220 DEGS. AS I WAS CONTACTING NORCAL APCH AT ABOUT 5000 FT MSL; VERY QUICKLY; A PA28 APPEARED IN MY WINDSCREEN; AND THEY PULLED A HARD L EVASIVE TURN. THOUGH I WAS SCANNING FOR TFC; IT MUST BE NO FAULT OTHER THAN MY OWN FOR NOT SPOTTING THE TFC DURING THE CLB. I WAS NOT IN FULL COM WITH APCH UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE SITUATION UNFOLDED SO QUICKLY THAT I DID NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT CONTINUE CLBING. HAD I MADE A RIGHT TURN I FEEL THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION; THOUGH IF I DID DIVERT TO THE RIGHT; THE OTHER ACFT MAY HAVE DONE SO AS WELL. HOWEVER; I DID NOT SEE THE TFC IN TIME TO MAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THIS ENCOUNTER HAS INCREDIBLY MAGNIFIED THE IMPORTANCE OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS; AS I AM STILL SHAKEN TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES HAD THE OTHER PLT NOT MADE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.