A private pilot in a C172 entered a busy traffic pattern and suffered two separate losses of separat...

Attributes
ACN	1236439
Time
Date	201501
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	LYH.Airport
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 130 Flight Crew Type 80
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict
Miss Distance	Horizontal 1000 Vertical 200

Narrative:

I just experienced a near-mid-air collision. I came back from my cross-country; it was getting dark; and there was a large group of aircraft attempting to landing at lyh; runway 4. Tower told another aircraft...to follow us in; we were number #2 to land at the time. The aircraft started to turn in front of us; thinking that #3 to land was us. Tower had us do an immediate 360; and started to chew out the other aircraft. Meanwhile we were doing the 360; and another aircraft was making a left turn to enter into the landing order. I notice them on TCAS and realized they were on a collision course. Being in a left turn; I don't think he could see me. TCAS also said he was at the same altitude. I couldn't go down since it was night and I didn't want to get any closer to the ground; and I wasn't sure where to go laterally because of all the confusion; so I climbed. I pass directly over top of him; at maybe two hundred feet or so. I was then queried by ATC if I had him in sight; which I said I did. I followed him in to land; but was shaken up enough to where I botched my first landing and had to do a go around; partially because of the strong crosswind. Second pattern lead to a smooth landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A private pilot in a C172 entered a busy traffic pattern and suffered two separate losses of separation requiring evasive maneuvering. Both events were harrowing but did not meet NMAC criteria.

Narrative: I just experienced a near-mid-air collision. I came back from my cross-country; it was getting dark; and there was a large group of aircraft attempting to landing at LYH; runway 4. Tower told another aircraft...to follow us in; we were number #2 to land at the time. The aircraft started to turn in front of us; thinking that #3 to land was us. Tower had us do an immediate 360; and started to chew out the other aircraft. Meanwhile we were doing the 360; and another aircraft was making a left turn to enter into the landing order. I notice them on TCAS and realized they were on a collision course. Being in a left turn; I don't think he could see me. TCAS also said he was at the same altitude. I couldn't go down since it was night and I didn't want to get any closer to the ground; and I wasn't sure where to go laterally because of all the confusion; so I climbed. I pass directly over top of him; at maybe two hundred feet or so. I was then queried by ATC if I had him in sight; which I said I did. I followed him in to land; but was shaken up enough to where I botched my first landing and had to do a go around; partially because of the strong crosswind. Second pattern lead to a smooth landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

A private pilot in a C172 entered a busy traffic pattern and suffered two separate losses of separation requiring evasive maneuvering. Both events were harrowing but did not meet near midair collision criteria.