Small aircraft has near midair collision in traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	255267
Time
Date	199310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	landing other other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 160 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	255267
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First off, I had not flown in 1 1/2 months. This flight was to get myself reacquainted with flying. My intention was to do about 4 touch and goes then call it a day. Due to heavy traffic, I only did 2 lndgs and 2 gars due to aircraft on the runway. The controller was making the calls for turns for all aircraft randomly (or when he deemed necessary, probably). Additional contributing factors were the low sun and haze. The diagram explains the situation, the dotted line represents me after I saw them. The controller also asked if I saw them not a second after I noticed them. Next time, if I ever wait that long to fly again, I will choose a lighter day and take a safety pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS NMAC IN TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: FIRST OFF, I HAD NOT FLOWN IN 1 1/2 MONTHS. THIS FLT WAS TO GET MYSELF REACQUAINTED WITH FLYING. MY INTENTION WAS TO DO ABOUT 4 TOUCH AND GOES THEN CALL IT A DAY. DUE TO HVY TFC, I ONLY DID 2 LNDGS AND 2 GARS DUE TO ACFT ON THE RWY. THE CTLR WAS MAKING THE CALLS FOR TURNS FOR ALL ACFT RANDOMLY (OR WHEN HE DEEMED NECESSARY, PROBABLY). ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE LOW SUN AND HAZE. THE DIAGRAM EXPLAINS THE SIT, THE DOTTED LINE REPRESENTS ME AFTER I SAW THEM. THE CTLR ALSO ASKED IF I SAW THEM NOT A SECOND AFTER I NOTICED THEM. NEXT TIME, IF I EVER WAIT THAT LONG TO FLY AGAIN, I WILL CHOOSE A LIGHTER DAY AND TAKE A SAFETY PLT.

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.