Originally Posted by
bozobigtop
I remember the PSA accident as if it was today, it was on a Monday. I had earned my private license about six weeks before this accident in the L.A. basin. This accident taught me to cover your behind through the process of not depending on others outside of your cockpit. I always tell younger pilots controllers, bosses, and others will go home tonight, will you?
Leveled off at 10,000 today and ATC pointed out a Cessna that was 500' above us, VFR, and gave us discretion to avoid him. I turned to the left 10 degrees, and he turned to face us. I turned 10 more, and he turned towards us again and started descending. We got a TA, I turned further left and we flew right past him, but he got within a mile laterally and 200' vertically of our altitude. I was anticipating an RA and was a split-second from clicking off the autopilot. The whole "big sky" theory never was that comforting for me.....