<< >> NASA ASRS Report 171715, February 1991

Aircraft X on practice approach to runway 35R, aircraft Y taking off from runway 17L, both doing what tower instructs, have near midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	171715
Time
Date	199102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : apa
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 780 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	171715
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While making a practice ILS approach in VFR to apa 35R. The apa tower controller cleared me (as safety pilot) to the MM and to follow traffic now on a left crosswind from runway 17L (opp direction traffic in effect). I was about 3 mi out when I observed an aircraft on takeoff roll from 17L. When we arrived at the MM other aircraft passed overhead about 300' above. At no time during the approach did I feel like a collision was imminent, but I was concerned about the other aircraft. I also wondered why the controller did not resolve the situation by turning one of us off. After we pulled off the runway the controller asked us if she had cleared us to the MM and we said yes she had. No other questions were asked, but she indicated that she was not sure if she cleared us to the MM, or to follow the aircraft on crosswind. In general, I think this controller is more than adequate and does a good job.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT X ON PRACTICE APCH TO RWY 35R, ACFT Y TAKING OFF FROM RWY 17L, BOTH DOING WHAT TWR INSTRUCTS, HAVE NMAC.

Narrative: WHILE MAKING A PRACTICE ILS APCH IN VFR TO APA 35R. THE APA TWR CTLR CLRED ME (AS SAFETY PLT) TO THE MM AND TO FOLLOW TFC NOW ON A LEFT XWIND FROM RWY 17L (OPP DIRECTION TFC IN EFFECT). I WAS ABOUT 3 MI OUT WHEN I OBSERVED AN ACFT ON TKOF ROLL FROM 17L. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE MM OTHER ACFT PASSED OVERHEAD ABOUT 300' ABOVE. AT NO TIME DURING THE APCH DID I FEEL LIKE A COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, BUT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER ACFT. I ALSO WONDERED WHY THE CTLR DID NOT RESOLVE THE SITUATION BY TURNING ONE OF US OFF. AFTER WE PULLED OFF THE RWY THE CTLR ASKED US IF SHE HAD CLRED US TO THE MM AND WE SAID YES SHE HAD. NO OTHER QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, BUT SHE INDICATED THAT SHE WAS NOT SURE IF SHE CLRED US TO THE MM, OR TO FOLLOW THE ACFT ON XWIND. IN GENERAL, I THINK THIS CTLR IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE AND DOES A GOOD JOB.

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.