C182 pilot reports being overflown by a B757 at 6000 feet; 500 feet above; assuming the transponder provided warning to that flight crew. C182's transponder was on standby.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	757166
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pbi.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 125
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pbi.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	757166
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were in VFR cruise at 5500 ft (not talking to ATC). WX was about a 3000 ft broken layer; with tops around 5000 ft. All of a sudden a big jet (B757?) flew right over the top of us; maybe at best 500 ft above us. I figured he had us on TCAS and pbi was vectoring him over the top of us. After he passed us; he descended and continued on into pbi. Was a bit startled; but figured we were on TCAS and radar and it was a fully controled situation. A few mins later; I was calling pbi for an IFR clearance for my descent. They gave me a squawk code. I noticed that my transponder was on standby. Now I was thinking that pbi and the jet's TCAS was not picking me up and we just missed by luck. Not sure now. My failure to check my transponder on takeoff put an airliner at risk. Now; I am thinking the transponder should just stay on! I hardly ever fly into airports where radar is on the field. In thinking back; I was distraction a bit on takeoff. There was a crosswind as well as traffic turning base; so; I wanted to get out before I was a factor to him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PILOT REPORTS BEING OVERFLOWN BY A B757 AT 6000 FEET; 500 FEET ABOVE; ASSUMING THE TRANSPONDER PROVIDED WARNING TO THAT FLT CREW. C182'S TRANSPONDER WAS ON STANDBY.

Narrative: WE WERE IN VFR CRUISE AT 5500 FT (NOT TALKING TO ATC). WX WAS ABOUT A 3000 FT BROKEN LAYER; WITH TOPS AROUND 5000 FT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG JET (B757?) FLEW RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF US; MAYBE AT BEST 500 FT ABOVE US. I FIGURED HE HAD US ON TCAS AND PBI WAS VECTORING HIM OVER THE TOP OF US. AFTER HE PASSED US; HE DSNDED AND CONTINUED ON INTO PBI. WAS A BIT STARTLED; BUT FIGURED WE WERE ON TCAS AND RADAR AND IT WAS A FULLY CTLED SITUATION. A FEW MINS LATER; I WAS CALLING PBI FOR AN IFR CLRNC FOR MY DSCNT. THEY GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE. I NOTICED THAT MY XPONDER WAS ON STANDBY. NOW I WAS THINKING THAT PBI AND THE JET'S TCAS WAS NOT PICKING ME UP AND WE JUST MISSED BY LUCK. NOT SURE NOW. MY FAILURE TO CHK MY XPONDER ON TKOF PUT AN AIRLINER AT RISK. NOW; I AM THINKING THE XPONDER SHOULD JUST STAY ON! I HARDLY EVER FLY INTO ARPTS WHERE RADAR IS ON THE FIELD. IN THINKING BACK; I WAS DISTR A BIT ON TKOF. THERE WAS A XWIND AS WELL AS TFC TURNING BASE; SO; I WANTED TO GET OUT BEFORE I WAS A FACTOR TO HIM.

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.