Photo shoot on final approach to ric, va, results in an near midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	473313
Time
Date	200005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ric.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ric.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ric.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	473313
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I told both ground and tower controllers that I needed to take photographs 1-2 mi north of the airport. This was on the approach path to the airport. I was vectored to the east of 2 aircraft on final approach. Once I reported both aircraft in sight, I was cleared to proceed to the photo location and I then went to it and reported on station. Moments later, I heard the tower clear an approaching aircraft to land. I looked to the north and saw the other aircraft. If I would have turned to the right, I would have come even closer to the aircraft, so I continued my left turn with a steeper bank. The other aircraft stated that it was impossible to complete the approach. The controller cleared the aircraft to circle to runway 25. I apologized to the controller for being in the way. He stated that if I was in the way he 'would not have put you (me) there.' I should have been more vigilant to see and avoid the other aircraft. And I should have been quicker in taking the photographs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHOTO SHOOT ON FINAL APCH TO RIC, VA, RESULTS IN AN NMAC.

Narrative: I TOLD BOTH GND AND TWR CTLRS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS 1-2 MI N OF THE ARPT. THIS WAS ON THE APCH PATH TO THE ARPT. I WAS VECTORED TO THE E OF 2 ACFT ON FINAL APCH. ONCE I RPTED BOTH ACFT IN SIGHT, I WAS CLRED TO PROCEED TO THE PHOTO LOCATION AND I THEN WENT TO IT AND RPTED ON STATION. MOMENTS LATER, I HEARD THE TWR CLR AN APCHING ACFT TO LAND. I LOOKED TO THE N AND SAW THE OTHER ACFT. IF I WOULD HAVE TURNED TO THE R, I WOULD HAVE COME EVEN CLOSER TO THE ACFT, SO I CONTINUED MY L TURN WITH A STEEPER BANK. THE OTHER ACFT STATED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE APCH. THE CTLR CLRED THE ACFT TO CIRCLE TO RWY 25. I APOLOGIZED TO THE CTLR FOR BEING IN THE WAY. HE STATED THAT IF I WAS IN THE WAY HE 'WOULD NOT HAVE PUT YOU (ME) THERE.' I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE VIGILANT TO SEE AND AVOID THE OTHER ACFT. AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKER IN TAKING THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

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.