A PA28 pilot makes an early turn onto base leg at ism, fl, and conflicts with traffic on short final...

Attributes
ACN	430244
Time
Date	199903
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ism.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ism.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ism.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	430244
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately 15 NM from airport, I contacted the tower for landing instructions. I was instructed to enter midfield left downwind for runway 33. I requested a left base entry to runway 33, which was approved by the tower. When I entered left base, I called the tower and reported my position. I was issued a landing clearance following aircraft #2. From my position there was no room for a landing aircraft. I informed tower of the situation and noted aircraft #2 making a right turn to avoid my flight path. I made a left turn for spacing between aircraft. I then maintained visual separation with aircraft #2. Both aircraft landed without incident. Factors that contributed to this incident were a busy airport (1 aircraft performing touch-and-goes, airship operations, and inbound/outbound operations). Improved situational awareness by all parties involved would have prevented this incident. By listening to the positions of the other aircraft it would be easier to visualize the traffic present in the airport vicinity. Better scan for other aircraft would locate traffic sooner, thus avoiding conflicts. There is no substitute for 2 eyes looking for other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT MAKES AN EARLY TURN ONTO BASE LEG AT ISM, FL, AND CONFLICTS WITH TFC ON SHORT FINAL.

Narrative: AT APPROX 15 NM FROM ARPT, I CONTACTED THE TWR FOR LNDG INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO ENTER MIDFIELD L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 33. I REQUESTED A L BASE ENTRY TO RWY 33, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE TWR. WHEN I ENTERED L BASE, I CALLED THE TWR AND RPTED MY POS. I WAS ISSUED A LNDG CLRNC FOLLOWING ACFT #2. FROM MY POS THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR A LNDG ACFT. I INFORMED TWR OF THE SIT AND NOTED ACFT #2 MAKING A R TURN TO AVOID MY FLT PATH. I MADE A L TURN FOR SPACING BTWN ACFT. I THEN MAINTAINED VISUAL SEPARATION WITH ACFT #2. BOTH ACFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT WERE A BUSY ARPT (1 ACFT PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GOES, AIRSHIP OPS, AND INBOUND/OUTBOUND OPS). IMPROVED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BY ALL PARTIES INVOLVED WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT. BY LISTENING TO THE POSITIONS OF THE OTHER ACFT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO VISUALIZE THE TFC PRESENT IN THE ARPT VICINITY. BETTER SCAN FOR OTHER ACFT WOULD LOCATE TFC SOONER, THUS AVOIDING CONFLICTS. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR 2 EYES LOOKING FOR OTHER ACFT.

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.