Narrative:

I was flying a cessna back up the coast. (I was there with my buddy for the day.) my buddy flew down with me in another cessna for the day as well. We were departing around the same time. I took off first and I heard him on the radio maybe 10 minutes behind me. I maintained an altitude 2;000 ft above where he was; but he was still a few miles behind me. We were both on flight following and I told ATC that I saw the other traffic as did he. He was maintaining separation behind me. As we progressed up the [coast] directly over the land; he took a more westbound route over the water. I saw him several miles off our left wing. ATC told him to head up the shore line so he did. He turned northeast-bound and it looked like he was going to cross in front of us with no issue. I had him in sight the entire time so I proceeded north. He did not see me until he came pretty close (75 ft approximately). At that point he took evasive action and descended informing ATC that he was descending for traffic. There was no conflict after this. We proceeded our separate ways both on flight following. All in all; although I saw him the whole time it was a too close for comfort. I misjudged his projected flight path and my projected flight path. I should have made a turn earlier rather than let it get that close. I thought he would cross at a safe distance in front of me; but he came rather close. It happened very fast. I attempted to turn left to go behind him; which I did right before he descended. I learned from this incident that traffic really can become dangerously close very fast. I learned to always take more precautionary action than you think you should take. In the future I will provide myself more separation.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 pilot had a NMAC with a friend's aircraft after he misjudged the two aircraft's flight paths as they both flew VMC up the Florida coast.

Narrative: I was flying a Cessna back up the coast. (I was there with my buddy for the day.) My buddy flew down with me in another Cessna for the day as well. We were departing around the same time. I took off first and I heard him on the radio maybe 10 minutes behind me. I maintained an altitude 2;000 FT above where he was; but he was still a few miles behind me. We were both on flight following and I told ATC that I saw the other traffic as did he. He was maintaining separation behind me. As we progressed up the [coast] directly over the land; he took a more westbound route over the water. I saw him several miles off our left wing. ATC told him to head up the shore line so he did. He turned northeast-bound and it looked like he was going to cross in front of us with no issue. I had him in sight the entire time so I proceeded north. He did not see me until he came pretty close (75 FT approximately). At that point he took evasive action and descended informing ATC that he was descending for traffic. There was no conflict after this. We proceeded our separate ways both on flight following. All in all; although I saw him the whole time it was a too close for comfort. I misjudged his projected flight path and my projected flight path. I should have made a turn earlier rather than let it get that close. I thought he would cross at a safe distance in front of me; but he came rather close. It happened very fast. I attempted to turn left to go behind him; which I did right before he descended. I learned from this incident that traffic really can become dangerously close very fast. I learned to always take more precautionary action than you think you should take. In the future I will provide myself more separation.

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.