<< >> NASA ASRS Report 427150, January 1999

Instructor pilot on an IFR training flight directs trainee to make a r-hand downwind leg after breaking off from a practice VOR approach to an uncontrolled airport contrary to required traffic pattern. There were other aircraft in and entering the pattern. Pilot waiting on the ground for takeoff advised reporter of error on unicom.

Attributes
ACN	427150
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : o69
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 770 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	427150
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was with my student on an IFR flight plan on a VOR approach to an uncontrolled field. The conditions were hazy, with low visibilities (2-3 SM). Once the field was in sight, I decided to enter a right downwind to the active runway for landing. The petaluma VOR 29 approach lists no circling restrs. Non IFR traffic use left traffic for the active runway 11. Since several aircraft were positioning for the 45 degree left downwind, I thought it would be safer to enter a right downwind, giving me better view of the runway (right seat) and better avoidance of inbound traffic. A pilot awaiting takeoff said I should follow left traffic pattern and I responded with the above reasoning. In addition, I did not cut off any airplanes or force any planes off the runway or traffic pattern.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT DIRECTS TRAINEE TO MAKE A R-HAND DOWNWIND LEG AFTER BREAKING OFF FROM A PRACTICE VOR APCH TO AN UNCTLED ARPT CONTRARY TO REQUIRED TFC PATTERN. THERE WERE OTHER ACFT IN AND ENTERING THE PATTERN. PLT WAITING ON THE GND FOR TKOF ADVISED RPTR OF ERROR ON UNICOM.

Narrative: I WAS WITH MY STUDENT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN ON A VOR APCH TO AN UNCTLED FIELD. THE CONDITIONS WERE HAZY, WITH LOW VISIBILITIES (2-3 SM). ONCE THE FIELD WAS IN SIGHT, I DECIDED TO ENTER A R DOWNWIND TO THE ACTIVE RWY FOR LNDG. THE PETALUMA VOR 29 APCH LISTS NO CIRCLING RESTRS. NON IFR TFC USE L TFC FOR THE ACTIVE RWY 11. SINCE SEVERAL ACFT WERE POSITIONING FOR THE 45 DEG L DOWNWIND, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO ENTER A R DOWNWIND, GIVING ME BETTER VIEW OF THE RWY (R SEAT) AND BETTER AVOIDANCE OF INBOUND TFC. A PLT AWAITING TKOF SAID I SHOULD FOLLOW L TFC PATTERN AND I RESPONDED WITH THE ABOVE REASONING. IN ADDITION, I DID NOT CUT OFF ANY AIRPLANES OR FORCE ANY PLANES OFF THE RWY OR TFC PATTERN.

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.