Citation II S2/Bravo (C550)
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
While IFR (IMC) on the VOR/DME A approach at WVI; I had to take evasive action to avoid an aircraft that I couldn't even see. I was IMC and descending on the final segment of the approach to the MDA. My TCAS indicated traffic 300 feet below me and less than a mile; and I was still IMC. I immediately initiated a climb until the traffic showed that it was behind me. I had made multiple calls on the uni-comm frequency; and after this very close encounter made another telling the aircraft that had come frighteningly close that we almost met 'face to face.' A response of 'sorry' was acknowledged and the aircraft said they were just running over to Salinas (SNS) below the clouds. The issue I have is that I was still IMC and the TCAS showed the aircraft as only 300 feet below me; indicating that the aircraft was not maintaining proper clearance with cloud bases. The conditions were reported as 1500 overcast with ten miles visibility under the overcast. This is a very typical summer weather pattern with the coastal fog. 'Scud running' is far too common at WVI and when IFR aircraft are making an approach with VFR traffic not following proper cloud clearance; it makes for a dangerous situation. We had already been told to switch to the uni-comm frequency by Norcal; so Norcal was not in a position to provide additional guidance. The reason I present this is because there is a culture of non-compliance at the WVI airport and the FAA does not respond to documented concerns. As an example; there are skydivers jumping through the fog nearby and the FAA refuses to do anything about it. Proper education of aviators and proper supervision by the FAA is what is needed. We sorely lack both.
CE550 Captain in IMC on approach to WVI experiences a TCAS alert for traffic 300 feet below and pulls up. It would therefore not be possible for the VFR traffic to be 500 feet below the cloud bases.