<< >> NASA ASRS Report 303972, May 1995

Pilot of an small aircraft sel had near midair collision with another aircraft in the traffic pattern due to misunderstanding tower instructions.

Attributes
ACN	303972
Time
Date	199505
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lou
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lou tower : roc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 460 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	303972
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After 2 hours of IFR low approach training in a twin, I made a flight with another plane to lou at 2500 ft (2000 ft AGL). Above the final runway 24 the control tower told me, 'oth down runway 24 and clear to land.' a plane just terminated his final, so I thought the controller asked me to try to land on the runway 24 like a direct final without a pattern (as with a IFR procedure) so I decided to do a 360 degree turn to lose altitude and continue my final. I started to do so (as I tried to tell my decision to the controller) when I understood that the controller asked to follow another plane in the downwind. I saw the plane in the downwind on my left at 500 ft at my altitude. It was ok, but I have understood that, 'clear to land' in this case meant also do a normal VFR pattern and land, which was not clear during the event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL HAD NMAC WITH ANOTHER ACFT IN THE TFC PATTERN DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING TWR INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: AFTER 2 HRS OF IFR LOW APCH TRAINING IN A TWIN, I MADE A FLT WITH ANOTHER PLANE TO LOU AT 2500 FT (2000 FT AGL). ABOVE THE FINAL RWY 24 THE CTL TWR TOLD ME, 'OTH DOWN RWY 24 AND CLR TO LAND.' A PLANE JUST TERMINATED HIS FINAL, SO I THOUGHT THE CTLR ASKED ME TO TRY TO LAND ON THE RWY 24 LIKE A DIRECT FINAL WITHOUT A PATTERN (AS WITH A IFR PROC) SO I DECIDED TO DO A 360 DEG TURN TO LOSE ALT AND CONTINUE MY FINAL. I STARTED TO DO SO (AS I TRIED TO TELL MY DECISION TO THE CTLR) WHEN I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CTLR ASKED TO FOLLOW ANOTHER PLANE IN THE DOWNWIND. I SAW THE PLANE IN THE DOWNWIND ON MY L AT 500 FT AT MY ALT. IT WAS OK, BUT I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT, 'CLR TO LAND' IN THIS CASE MEANT ALSO DO A NORMAL VFR PATTERN AND LAND, WHICH WAS NOT CLR DURING THE EVENT.

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.