Narrative:

Our aircraft was in right closed pattern runway 18R. Other aircraft called inbound from south, and was instructed to enter right downwind for runway 18R. Tower advised us of aircraft inbound from southwest. While on crosswind, approaching downwind, spotted aircraft immediately to our left, on a direct downwind entry. We pushed forward to dive below other aircraft. Total clearance was 100 ft or less. Immediately following, other aircraft advised tower of near miss. Poor initial position reporting of other aircraft with failure to enter at 45 degree point were main factors of occurrence. Also, failure on our part to scan entire area for traffic and poor entry instructions from tower controller. This problem could have been avoided if the tower had instructed aircraft to make a 45 degree entry.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC IN THE TFC PATTERN ON DOWNWIND BTWN 2 C172 PLTS AT APC, CA.

Narrative: OUR ACFT WAS IN R CLOSED PATTERN RWY 18R. OTHER ACFT CALLED INBOUND FROM S, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO ENTER R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 18R. TWR ADVISED US OF ACFT INBOUND FROM SW. WHILE ON XWIND, APCHING DOWNWIND, SPOTTED ACFT IMMEDIATELY TO OUR L, ON A DIRECT DOWNWIND ENTRY. WE PUSHED FORWARD TO DIVE BELOW OTHER ACFT. TOTAL CLRNC WAS 100 FT OR LESS. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, OTHER ACFT ADVISED TWR OF NEAR MISS. POOR INITIAL POS RPTING OF OTHER ACFT WITH FAILURE TO ENTER AT 45 DEG POINT WERE MAIN FACTORS OF OCCURRENCE. ALSO, FAILURE ON OUR PART TO SCAN ENTIRE AREA FOR TFC AND POOR ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS FROM TWR CTLR. THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE TWR HAD INSTRUCTED ACFT TO MAKE A 45 DEG ENTRY.

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.