<< >> NASA ASRS Report 193446, October 1991

Reporter and another traffic watch aircraft fly numerous impromptu formation flts with passenger on board.

Attributes
ACN	193446
Time
Date	199110
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mtn
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 730
ASRS Report	193446
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the first 3 weeks of october a couple of close proximity flybys occurred between myself and other company traffic. In each instance we were communicating with one another, but nevertheless engaged in what could be considered formation flight. I realize this is illegal and potentially dangerous as the events occurred during a commercial operation with passengers onboard each aircraft. The problem arose due to feeling more and more comfortable flying near one another as we are both traffic patrol pilots, and becoming bored at times in our normal routine. This impeded my judgement and contributed to poor reactions until we were in close proximity. I now stay more alert and less complacent. We communicate better and fly more safely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR AND ANOTHER TFC WATCH ACFT FLY NUMEROUS IMPROMPTU FORMATION FLTS WITH PAX ON BOARD.

Narrative: DURING THE FIRST 3 WEEKS OF OCTOBER A COUPLE OF CLOSE PROX FLYBYS OCCURRED BTWN MYSELF AND OTHER COMPANY TFC. IN EACH INSTANCE WE WERE COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER, BUT NEVERTHELESS ENGAGED IN WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED FORMATION FLT. I REALIZE THIS IS ILLEGAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS THE EVENTS OCCURRED DURING A COMMERCIAL OP WITH PAXS ONBOARD EACH ACFT. THE PROBLEM AROSE DUE TO FEELING MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE FLYING NEAR ONE ANOTHER AS WE ARE BOTH TFC PATROL PLTS, AND BECOMING BORED AT TIMES IN OUR NORMAL ROUTINE. THIS IMPEDED MY JUDGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTED TO POOR REACTIONS UNTIL WE WERE IN CLOSE PROX. I NOW STAY MORE ALERT AND LESS COMPLACENT. WE COMMUNICATE BETTER AND FLY MORE SAFELY.

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.