Near midair collision in the traffic pattern during a visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	270118
Time
Date	199404
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	270118
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Checked-in with the final approach controller who said he would point out a B757 for us to follow. On downwind, I asked first officer (PNF) to radio that we have a 'target' at 2 O'clock in sight. Controller said 'follow that traffic to runway 24R, cleared the visual.' turned base leg and was about to turn final when a B757 appeared at 11 O'clock and 1 1/2 mi. I might have acquired the 757 earlier, but was occupied with the traffic ahead. Being on a converging course, I pulled up and flew following the 757. Approach then switched us to runway 24L. So much for volunteering to assist ATC. In the future, we'll be inclined to report 'looking' for the traffic if there is any chance it's the wrong one, and I'll never volunteer. If this means a lesser acceptance rate into busy hubs -- too bad. Fix the system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC IN THE TFC PATTERN DURING A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: CHKED-IN WITH THE FINAL APCH CTLR WHO SAID HE WOULD POINT OUT A B757 FOR US TO FOLLOW. ON DOWNWIND, I ASKED FO (PNF) TO RADIO THAT WE HAVE A 'TARGET' AT 2 O'CLOCK IN SIGHT. CTLR SAID 'FOLLOW THAT TFC TO RWY 24R, CLRED THE VISUAL.' TURNED BASE LEG AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN FINAL WHEN A B757 APPEARED AT 11 O'CLOCK AND 1 1/2 MI. I MIGHT HAVE ACQUIRED THE 757 EARLIER, BUT WAS OCCUPIED WITH THE TFC AHEAD. BEING ON A CONVERGING COURSE, I PULLED UP AND FLEW FOLLOWING THE 757. APCH THEN SWITCHED US TO RWY 24L. SO MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING TO ASSIST ATC. IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL BE INCLINED TO RPT 'LOOKING' FOR THE TFC IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE IT'S THE WRONG ONE, AND I'LL NEVER VOLUNTEER. IF THIS MEANS A LESSER ACCEPTANCE RATE INTO BUSY HUBS -- TOO BAD. FIX THE SYS.

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.