Narrative:

On vectors for a visual approach to runway 27 at san. After having advised approach control that I had 'in sight' the traffic he pointed out to me, and which I was to follow to the airport on a visual approach, while turning to base leg, I realized that I was initially looking at a different aircraft than the one approach control had in mind, as the 'real one' was on my left and would be too close if I maintained my planned course of flight and course of action. So, I continued a right turn to make a 360 degree and follow the right aircraft (on my left). At the same time as I was turning away from him, approach control advised me of the traffic on my left and added his instruction for a right 360 degree turn for resequencing. No danger of collision existed due to the timely turn away from the right traffic, which I had originally missed. But it was too close for comfort. On my part, the 'TCASII' system was instrumental in recognizing the potential conflict and had issued a 'TA.' (no RA was issued by may TCASII. Only a TA). At first, I hated the TCASII. This has made a believer out of me. It's potential is invaluable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG SIGHTS WRONG TFC TO FOLLOW. ON BASE LEG TURN SIGHTS CORRECT TFC AT CLOSE PROX. EVASIVE ACTION.

Narrative: ON VECTORS FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 27 AT SAN. AFTER HAVING ADVISED APCH CTL THAT I HAD 'IN SIGHT' THE TFC HE POINTED OUT TO ME, AND WHICH I WAS TO FOLLOW TO THE ARPT ON A VISUAL APCH, WHILE TURNING TO BASE LEG, I REALIZED THAT I WAS INITIALLY LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT ACFT THAN THE ONE APCH CTL HAD IN MIND, AS THE 'REAL ONE' WAS ON MY L AND WOULD BE TOO CLOSE IF I MAINTAINED MY PLANNED COURSE OF FLT AND COURSE OF ACTION. SO, I CONTINUED A R TURN TO MAKE A 360 DEG AND FOLLOW THE R ACFT (ON MY L). AT THE SAME TIME AS I WAS TURNING AWAY FROM HIM, APCH CTL ADVISED ME OF THE TFC ON MY L AND ADDED HIS INSTRUCTION FOR A R 360 DEG TURN FOR RESEQUENCING. NO DANGER OF COLLISION EXISTED DUE TO THE TIMELY TURN AWAY FROM THE R TFC, WHICH I HAD ORIGINALLY MISSED. BUT IT WAS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. ON MY PART, THE 'TCASII' SYS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND HAD ISSUED A 'TA.' (NO RA WAS ISSUED BY MAY TCASII. ONLY A TA). AT FIRST, I HATED THE TCASII. THIS HAS MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME. IT'S POTENTIAL IS INVALUABLE.

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.