A pilot and check airman on approach to an airport with pct IFR flight following had a near miss wit...

Narrative:

While flying the ILS 26 instrument approach during a checkride; our aircraft came very near another aircraft apparently flying the same instrument approach. Initially the check airman and I made visual contact with aircraft in front and above us. We reported the visual to potomac approach; which was providing flight following during our IFR flight. Potomac was not in contact with the other aircraft. The aircraft turned northbound; and I returned to my instrument scan; thinking that the check airman would keep visual contact. We saw on the traffic information service display that the aircraft had turned back toward us; and was within 500 ft of our altitude; though we never regained visual contact. We eventually; apparently; passed almost directly beneath the other aircraft with less than 500 ft of separation. Although I queried potomac for an update on the position of the aircraft; the controller did not respond. I did not disengage the autopilot and start a descent until the check airman suggested I do so. I believe several factors contributed to this problem; including: 1. Lack of coordination in my aircraft regarding who would be responsible for maintaining visual contact with the other aircraft; 2. Lack of response by potomac approach when I queried for an update on the location of the other aircraft after losing visual contact; 3. The fact that the other aircraft was operating at an IFR altitude (although at 3;000 MSL they were less than 3;000 AGL) and conducting instrument approaches without being in contact with potomac approach; and 4. My mindset was that the check airman would help to keep me out of trouble. To prevent a recurrence; the main thing I can change is to treat the check airman as a non-pilot passenger; and not to expect him/her to keep me out of trouble. I believe I would have taken evasive action much sooner had I been flying solo; or had I not been in a situation where the person in the right seat was acting in the role of an evaluator or instructor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot and Check Airman on approach to an airport with PCT IFR flight following had a near miss with an aircraft apparently flying the same approach but not in communications with ATC.

Narrative: While flying the ILS 26 instrument approach during a checkride; our aircraft came very near another aircraft apparently flying the same instrument approach. Initially the Check Airman and I made visual contact with aircraft in front and above us. We reported the visual to Potomac Approach; which was providing flight following during our IFR flight. Potomac was not in contact with the other aircraft. The aircraft turned northbound; and I returned to my instrument scan; thinking that the Check Airman would keep visual contact. We saw on the Traffic Information Service display that the aircraft had turned back toward us; and was within 500 FT of our altitude; though we never regained visual contact. We eventually; apparently; passed almost directly beneath the other aircraft with less than 500 FT of separation. Although I queried Potomac for an update on the position of the aircraft; the Controller did not respond. I did not disengage the autopilot and start a descent until the Check Airman suggested I do so. I believe several factors contributed to this problem; including: 1. Lack of coordination in my aircraft regarding who would be responsible for maintaining visual contact with the other aircraft; 2. Lack of response by Potomac Approach when I queried for an update on the location of the other aircraft after losing visual contact; 3. The fact that the other aircraft was operating at an IFR altitude (although at 3;000 MSL they were less than 3;000 AGL) and conducting instrument approaches without being in contact with Potomac Approach; and 4. My mindset was that the Check Airman would help to keep me out of trouble. To prevent a recurrence; the main thing I can change is to treat the Check Airman as a non-pilot passenger; and not to expect him/her to keep me out of trouble. I believe I would have taken evasive action much sooner had I been flying solo; or had I not been in a situation where the person in the right seat was acting in the role of an evaluator or instructor.

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	977734
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MRB.Airport
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
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
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 2500 Flight Crew Type 70
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 200 Vertical 200

A pilot and check airman on approach to an airport with pct IFR flight following had a near miss with an aircraft apparently flying the same approach but not in communications with ATC.