General Information

Data Source:				NEAR MIDAIR COLLISIONS SYSTEM
   Report Number:			NGLCZMP97001
   GMT Date:				01/06/1997
   GMT Time:				19:20
   Local Time:				13:20
   City:				THIEF RIVER FALLS
   State:				MN
   Airport Id:				    
   Incident Evaluation:			POTENTIAL
   Report Status:			FINAL

Narrative

MESABA FLIGHT 3250 WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM GFK TO TVF. ON 
   DESCENT AND LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FEET, THEY MADE A VISUAL CONTACT ON 
   TRAFFIC AT 12 O'CLOCK, AND DEVIATED TO AVOID.  PILOT OF N118ND WAS 
   CLIMBING TO A VFR ALTITUDE OF 4500 MSL, BUT DECIDED THAT HE COULD NOT 
   MAKE IT VFR AND WAS DESCENDING FROM 2900 MSL BACK TO 2500 FEET MSL FOR 
   FLIGHT TO VFR. PILOT SAW MESABA 3250 AND ALTERED COURSE TO AVOID. 
   WEATHER CONDITIONS INDICATED MVFR WITH SCATTERED TO BROKEN LAYERS AND 
   10+SM VISIBILITY. MESABA 3250 CREW AND CONTROLLERS RECOMMEND ADDING 
   NOTES TO APPROACH PLATES AND AIRPORT DIRECTORY TO INDICATE HEAVY 
   STUDENT TRAFFIC AT AIRPORTS THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA USES MOST. 
   BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE IN AN AREA OF RADAR COVERAGE AND BOTH WERE 
   TRANSPONDER AND MODE C EQUIPPED AND REPORTING. N118ND WAS CLIMBING AND 
   NEAR THE MINIMUM RADAR ALTITUDE.

Reporting Aircraft Data

Operator:
   Type of Operation:			U.S. AIR CARRIER (14 CFR 121 OR 125)
   Aircraft Make/Model:			DHAV DHC-8-XXX               
   Aircraft Type:			MULTIENGINE - LAND
   Registration Number:			N849MA     
   Flight Plan Filed:			INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES
   Altitude (ft):			3000
   Sight Separation (Seconds):		8
   Type of Air Traffic Control:		ARTCC (ZMP)
   Vertical Separation (ft):		1500
   Horizontal Separation (ft):		0
   Operational Control Area(s):		CLASS C AIRSPACE
   Phase of Flight:			LEVEL FLIGHT OR CRUISE
   Transponder Equipped:		OPERATING, WITH ALTITUDE REPORTING
   Military Branch:			

Other Aircraft Data

Other Operator:
   Other Type of Operation:		GENERAL AVIATION (14 CFR 91)
   Other Aircraft Make/Model:		PIPER PA-28-XXX               
   Other Aircraft Type:			SINGLE ENGINE - LAND
   Other Registration Number:		N118ND     
   Other Flight Plan Filed:		VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
   Other Altitude (ft):			3000
   Other Sight Separation (Seconds):
   Other Type of Air Traffic Control:	UNKNOWN
   Other Vertical Separation (ft):	1500
   Other Horizontal Separation (ft):	0
   Other Phase of Flight:		LEVEL FLIGHT OR CRUISE
   Other Transponder Equipped:		OPERATING, WITH ALTITUDE REPORTING
   Other Military Branch:		

Reporting Pilot

Pilot Certificates:			AIRLINE TRANSPORT
   Pilot Ratings:			MULTIENGINE - LAND, SINGLE ENGINE - SEA

   Flight Time (Hours)

   Total Hours:				6086
   Total in Make/Model:			535

Other Pilot

Pilot Certificates:			PRIVATE
   Pilot Ratings:			SINGLE ENGINE - SEA

   Flight Time (Hours)

   Total Hours:				290
   Total in Make/Model:			40

Event Information

Reporting Region:			GREAT LAKES
   Reporting Facility ID:		ZMP 
   Fix or Facility Nearest NMAC:	TVF
   Distance From Fix (NM):		15
   Magnetic Bearing From Fix (Deg):	270
   Weather:				MARGINAL VMC
   Sky Conditions:			BROKEN
   Visibility:				MORE THAN 5 MILES
   Flight Conditions:			BRIGHT DAY