An instructor and student pilot closed on a cessna 172 in the traffic pattern at ccr.

Attributes
ACN	454010
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ccr.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ccr.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ccr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	454010
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

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.

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.