<< >> NASA ASRS Report 592734, September 2003

Cma ATCT controller may have become confused determining the sequence for several aircraft on downwind, base, and final.

Attributes
ACN	592734
Time
Date	200309
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cma.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cma.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 K (231)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : cma.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	592734
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3, 4
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 120 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

On right downwind for runway 26, I was asked by tower, do you see pitts on final, reply no. (The pitts then released a small puff of smoke). I then said I have the pitts. Tower: follow the pitts. I turned right to base. The tower then said 'do you see cessna in front of you?' reply, no. Tower: you are turning right for cessna, (and a few other words of anger). I said, looking. Tower: 2MC turn left now to the south downwind. Do you see the other mooney? Reply -- I have the mooney. You are now #2 behind the mooney. 1) problem -- controller did not give correct instructions, not once, but twice. 2) controller -- faulted me. It was his error, and a very unsafe one.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CMA ATCT CTLR MAY HAVE BECOME CONFUSED DETERMINING THE SEQUENCE FOR SEVERAL ACFT ON DOWNWIND, BASE, AND FINAL.

Narrative: ON R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 26, I WAS ASKED BY TWR, DO YOU SEE PITTS ON FINAL, REPLY NO. (THE PITTS THEN RELEASED A SMALL PUFF OF SMOKE). I THEN SAID I HAVE THE PITTS. TWR: FOLLOW THE PITTS. I TURNED R TO BASE. THE TWR THEN SAID 'DO YOU SEE CESSNA IN FRONT OF YOU?' REPLY, NO. TWR: YOU ARE TURNING R FOR CESSNA, (AND A FEW OTHER WORDS OF ANGER). I SAID, LOOKING. TWR: 2MC TURN L NOW TO THE S DOWNWIND. DO YOU SEE THE OTHER MOONEY? REPLY -- I HAVE THE MOONEY. YOU ARE NOW #2 BEHIND THE MOONEY. 1) PROB -- CTLR DID NOT GIVE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. 2) CTLR -- FAULTED ME. IT WAS HIS ERROR, AND A VERY UNSAFE ONE.

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.