A C-182 pilot on a sight-seeing flight was advised by the ATCT local controller of a close encounter...

Attributes
ACN	905387
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna Citation Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	Descent
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 3400 Flight Crew Type 1000
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict
Miss Distance	Vertical 300

Narrative:

I was traveling from east to west at 2;600 ft outside of the ZZZ airspace. I was monitoring ZZZ tower but was not aware of the fact that a cessna citation was above me in descent to runway 2R. When the controller called me and asked if I saw the traffic; I responded that I did not. Even though I was scanning and should have been aware of the traffic. The 182 is a high wing aircraft which makes spotting traffic above difficult but nonetheless; I missed it. When I landed I called the tower and discussed the situation and the controller said that even though I did nothing wrong; that a call up on the transition from southeast to southwest might have made the transition safer and easier for all concerned. I had a young passenger and his father aboard and that may have been a distraction at the time; but my only job is the safe operation of the aircraft. Usually I use flight following on these 'sightseeing' and 'orientation' flights but since this was to be such a short one I just monitored the tower frequency. The passengers asked to stay up longer and at that time I should have asked for flight following. I will always go to approach for VFR flight following once the frequency change from tower is approved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C-182 pilot on a sight-seeing flight was advised by the ATCT Local Controller of a close encounter with a Citation which passed several hundred feet above him unbeknownst to him.

Narrative: I was traveling from east to west at 2;600 FT outside of the ZZZ airspace. I was monitoring ZZZ Tower but was not aware of the fact that a Cessna Citation was above me in descent to Runway 2R. When the Controller called me and asked if I saw the traffic; I responded that I did not. Even though I was scanning and should have been aware of the traffic. The 182 is a high wing aircraft which makes spotting traffic above difficult but nonetheless; I missed it. When I landed I called the Tower and discussed the situation and the Controller said that even though I did nothing wrong; that a call up on the transition from southeast to southwest might have made the transition safer and easier for all concerned. I had a young passenger and his father aboard and that may have been a distraction at the time; but my only job is the safe operation of the aircraft. Usually I use flight following on these 'sightseeing' and 'orientation' flights but since this was to be such a short one I just monitored the Tower frequency. The passengers asked to stay up longer and at that time I should have asked for flight following. I will always go to approach for VFR flight following once the frequency change from Tower is approved.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A C-182 pilot on a sight-seeing flight was advised by the ATCT local controller of a close encounter with a citation which passed several hundred feet above him unbeknownst to him.