Narrative:

On approach to landing at ccr, right traffic for runway 32R. Difficult to see in haze at dusk. Saw C172 in front of us (we were #2 behind them) and elected to do a 360 degree left turn for spacing. Told tower what we needed to do as we started into turn. Tower then approved maneuver. On reflection, I should have told student to widen out our base rather than do a 360 degree and ask for approval, but it was dusk, hard to see in the haze, and I needed to stay away from aircraft I couldn't see well which slowed down quickly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PLT CLOSED ON A CESSNA 172 IN THE TFC PATTERN AT CCR.

Narrative: ON APCH TO LNDG AT CCR, R TFC FOR RWY 32R. DIFFICULT TO SEE IN HAZE AT DUSK. SAW C172 IN FRONT OF US (WE WERE #2 BEHIND THEM) AND ELECTED TO DO A 360 DEG L TURN FOR SPACING. TOLD TWR WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AS WE STARTED INTO TURN. TWR THEN APPROVED MANEUVER. ON REFLECTION, I SHOULD HAVE TOLD STUDENT TO WIDEN OUT OUR BASE RATHER THAN DO A 360 DEG AND ASK FOR APPROVAL, BUT IT WAS DUSK, HARD TO SEE IN THE HAZE, AND I NEEDED TO STAY AWAY FROM ACFT I COULDN'T SEE WELL WHICH SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY.

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.