Narrative:

During radar vector for approach to runway 09 at sbn, was issued right turn to heading of 360 degree, and advised of traffic X at 10 O'clock, and small aircraft Y at 1 O'clock. On roll out on 360 degree heading, located both targets and was cleared for approach, 10 O'clock traffic X was no factor and clear. I was advised that 1 O'clock traffic Y was circling for photos, and was cleared down to 2400'. Also advised that circling traffic was at 2200'. Decided to stop descent at 2800' and began turn toward airport north of circling traffic. Circling aircraft rolled out of turn and headed towards airport. We were overtaking him on his left side (north) and remained at 2800'. (Advised that aircraft was at 2300' now). Suddenly he turned north and passed directly under us at 2300' within 3 mi of the airport. If we had followed approach control's direction and descended to 2400' a mid-air might well have occurred. Why would approach allow an aircraft to circle on the final approach course at an altitude so very near to the initial approach altitude? Why did we not hear any communication between the conflicting aircraft and approach control (on another frequency I believe)? Why did the conflicting aircraft not inform approach that he was leaving the orbiting pattern? This was, in my opinion, a totally unnecessary conflict. The surface winds were out of the south and runway 27 should have been used, if this traffic was to be allowed to orbit.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BETWEEN CORPORATE JET AND PHOTO SMA CIRCLING ON APCH COURSE TO RWY 09 AT SBN.

Narrative: DURING RADAR VECTOR FOR APCH TO RWY 09 AT SBN, WAS ISSUED R TURN TO HDG OF 360 DEG, AND ADVISED OF TFC X AT 10 O'CLOCK, AND SMA Y AT 1 O'CLOCK. ON ROLL OUT ON 360 DEG HDG, LOCATED BOTH TARGETS AND WAS CLRED FOR APCH, 10 O'CLOCK TFC X WAS NO FACTOR AND CLR. I WAS ADVISED THAT 1 O'CLOCK TFC Y WAS CIRCLING FOR PHOTOS, AND WAS CLRED DOWN TO 2400'. ALSO ADVISED THAT CIRCLING TFC WAS AT 2200'. DECIDED TO STOP DSNT AT 2800' AND BEGAN TURN TOWARD ARPT N OF CIRCLING TFC. CIRCLING ACFT ROLLED OUT OF TURN AND HEADED TOWARDS ARPT. WE WERE OVERTAKING HIM ON HIS L SIDE (N) AND REMAINED AT 2800'. (ADVISED THAT ACFT WAS AT 2300' NOW). SUDDENLY HE TURNED N AND PASSED DIRECTLY UNDER US AT 2300' WITHIN 3 MI OF THE ARPT. IF WE HAD FOLLOWED APCH CTL'S DIRECTION AND DSNDED TO 2400' A MID-AIR MIGHT WELL HAVE OCCURRED. WHY WOULD APCH ALLOW AN ACFT TO CIRCLE ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE AT AN ALT SO VERY NEAR TO THE INITIAL APCH ALT? WHY DID WE NOT HEAR ANY COM BTWN THE CONFLICTING ACFT AND APCH CTL (ON ANOTHER FREQ I BELIEVE)? WHY DID THE CONFLICTING ACFT NOT INFORM APCH THAT HE WAS LEAVING THE ORBITING PATTERN? THIS WAS, IN MY OPINION, A TOTALLY UNNECESSARY CONFLICT. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE S AND RWY 27 SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED, IF THIS TFC WAS TO BE ALLOWED TO ORBIT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.