An IFR PA32 pilot on a GPS approach had a near midair collision after ZOA reported traffic in the de...

Narrative:

A PA32 piloted by me was cleared for an IFR departure. After climbing through 1;800 ft MSL; I went into VFR-on-top conditions; reported to center I was in on top conditions; requested direct; and they approved. I continued to climb to 7;500 ft MSL; where I leveled off for the duration of the flight. I was handed off to oakland center and requested a decent to 5;500 ft; where they approved my decent. They then asked me for my request. I replied requesting the RNAV GPS approach; as the automated weather stated 1000 ft broken [and] GPS approach in use. They approved my request and told me to cross the initial approach fix at or above 5;500 ft and I was cleared for the approach. I began to descend using my GPS and waas glidepath while monitoring tower. I then hear another plane state to tower that a plane just passed him overhead at 100 ft (I believe that was the distance he stated at the time). Oakland center came on no more than a minute later stating that there was traffic at my one o'clock and quickly said maybe it's behind you now. I stated 'negative contact' on the traffic. I then requested a frequency change to tower about ten miles out and I received no reply. Finally; oakland center told me to switch frequencies on about a four mile final on the GPS approach. I switched to tower where they became very defensive that I didn't call them before I entered class delta airspace. I explained [that] I tried to switch; but didn't receive a reply from center. Tower didn't respond to me. I then heard the other airplane ask the tower where I was so he could talk to me and the tower told him where I was going and that it was at his discretion. I pushed my plane into its parking and the gentleman approached me in a rude manner telling me how I was twenty five feet from him and I need to look out of my window. I then explained to him that I was on an IFR flight plan on a cleared approach and apologized for our close encounter. He didn't care to listen. There is no need to explain any further how our conversation went because it wasn't productive. He did say he was going to file a near miss with the FAA and he walked away shouting obscenities.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An IFR PA32 pilot on a GPS approach had a NMAC after ZOA reported traffic in the destination class D [airspace]; then switched the pilot to Local Control after his aircraft was in the class D airspace.

Narrative: A PA32 piloted by me was cleared for an IFR departure. After climbing through 1;800 FT MSL; I went into VFR-on-top conditions; reported to Center I was in on top conditions; requested direct; and they approved. I continued to climb to 7;500 FT MSL; where I leveled off for the duration of the flight. I was handed off to Oakland Center and requested a decent to 5;500 FT; where they approved my decent. They then asked me for my request. I replied requesting the RNAV GPS approach; as the automated weather stated 1000 FT broken [and] GPS approach in use. They approved my request and told me to cross the initial approach fix at or above 5;500 FT and I was cleared for the approach. I began to descend using my GPS and WAAS glidepath while monitoring Tower. I then hear another plane state to Tower that a plane just passed him overhead at 100 FT (I believe that was the distance he stated at the time). Oakland Center came on no more than a minute later stating that there was traffic at my one o'clock and quickly said maybe it's behind you now. I stated 'negative contact' on the traffic. I then requested a frequency change to Tower about ten miles out and I received no reply. Finally; Oakland Center told me to switch frequencies on about a four mile final on the GPS approach. I switched to Tower where they became very defensive that I didn't call them before I entered class Delta airspace. I explained [that] I tried to switch; but didn't receive a reply from Center. Tower didn't respond to me. I then heard the other airplane ask the Tower where I was so he could talk to me and the Tower told him where I was going and that it was at his discretion. I pushed my plane into its parking and the gentleman approached me in a rude manner telling me how I was twenty five feet from him and I need to look out of my window. I then explained to him that I was on an IFR flight plan on a cleared approach and apologized for our close encounter. He didn't care to listen. There is no need to explain any further how our conversation went because it wasn't productive. He did say he was going to file a near miss with the FAA and he walked away shouting obscenities.

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.

Attributes
ACN	953065
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 400 Flight Crew Type 350
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13.0
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Vertical 100

An IFR PA32 pilot on a GPS approach had a near midair collision after ZOA reported traffic in the destination class D [airspace]; then switched the pilot to local control after his aircraft was in the class D airspace.