Spi on first solo flight has near midair collision with other aircraft in pattern.

Attributes
ACN	250464
Time
Date	199308
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hvn
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hvn tracon : yyz
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 25 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	250464
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was asked by hvn tower if I had traffic in sight. I responded that I did. Tower then said I can turn to base at my discretion. I turned too early. I should have proceeded downwind until the traffic was past my left wing. This was my first solo flight and this was a factor in the confusion. I turned north when I was directed by tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPI ON FIRST SOLO FLT HAS NMAC WITH OTHER ACFT IN PATTERN.

Narrative: I WAS ASKED BY HVN TWR IF I HAD TFC IN SIGHT. I RESPONDED THAT I DID. TWR THEN SAID I CAN TURN TO BASE AT MY DISCRETION. I TURNED TOO EARLY. I SHOULD HAVE PROCEEDED DOWNWIND UNTIL THE TFC WAS PAST MY L WING. THIS WAS MY FIRST SOLO FLT AND THIS WAS A FACTOR IN THE CONFUSION. I TURNED N WHEN I WAS DIRECTED BY TWR.

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.