Small aircraft given a left turn to avoid traffic turned right toward traffic.

Attributes
ACN	163951
Time
Date	199011
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbn
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sbn
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	163951
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While cleared to land at south bend on runway 36 the tower instructed to turn west parallel to runway 27 and remain south. I was confused by the instruction and asked to clarify. I then noticed a twin landing on runway 27. In my judgement a right turn was more appropriate so that I could keep the twin in sight. I made a right turn remained south of runway 27 and climbed. This was not a near miss but I suggest that an earlier instruction to 'keep up speed landing traffic on runway 27' or 'be prepared to turn west because of landing traffic on runway 27' would have prevented the confusion. I suppose there must have been earlier talk with the twin on his approach and landing but I hadn't noticed it. It might be a good idea to have standard language approved for warning of crossing traffic when there is the possibility that one won't land as quickly as originally anticipated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA GIVEN A LEFT TURN TO AVOID TRAFFIC TURNED RIGHT TOWARD TRAFFIC.

Narrative: WHILE CLRED TO LAND AT S BEND ON RWY 36 THE TWR INSTRUCTED TO TURN W PARALLEL TO RWY 27 AND REMAIN S. I WAS CONFUSED BY THE INSTRUCTION AND ASKED TO CLARIFY. I THEN NOTICED A TWIN LNDG ON RWY 27. IN MY JUDGEMENT A R TURN WAS MORE APPROPRIATE SO THAT I COULD KEEP THE TWIN IN SIGHT. I MADE A R TURN REMAINED S OF RWY 27 AND CLBED. THIS WAS NOT A NEAR MISS BUT I SUGGEST THAT AN EARLIER INSTRUCTION TO 'KEEP UP SPD LNDG TFC ON RWY 27' OR 'BE PREPARED TO TURN W BECAUSE OF LNDG TFC ON RWY 27' WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE CONFUSION. I SUPPOSE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EARLIER TALK WITH THE TWIN ON HIS APCH AND LNDG BUT I HADN'T NOTICED IT. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE STANDARD LANGUAGE APPROVED FOR WARNING OF XING TFC WHEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT ONE WON'T LAND AS QUICKLY AS ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

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.