PA31 pilot involved in near miss on short final flying straight in approach.

Attributes
ACN	737597
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dts.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	737597
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On VFR flight plan approaching dts; I was switched from eglin approach to CTAF and told to squawk VFR. I was 5 mi from airport on extended final. Switched to CTAF and made transmission 'on 5 mi final for 14...' spotted traffic on downwind and 3 planes holding short of runway. Thought the radio seemed quiet but could not reach my chart to check frequency. Continued approach with no further radio calls since I figured I was on wrong frequency. Made landing and taxied to ramp. Did not realize until another pilot approached me on ground; that I had cut in front of him on his base to final turn. He was forced to go around since I was in front of him. If I had double-checked the frequency before entering the local area and entered the pattern on downwind instead of straight-in final this situation could have been avoided. I believe the haze played a small part in my not seeing the traffic. I should have made the full pattern to allow more time for traffic checking.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 PLT INVOLVED IN NEAR MISS ON SHORT FINAL FLYING STRAIGHT IN APCH.

Narrative: ON VFR FLT PLAN APCHING DTS; I WAS SWITCHED FROM EGLIN APCH TO CTAF AND TOLD TO SQUAWK VFR. I WAS 5 MI FROM ARPT ON EXTENDED FINAL. SWITCHED TO CTAF AND MADE XMISSION 'ON 5 MI FINAL FOR 14...' SPOTTED TFC ON DOWNWIND AND 3 PLANES HOLDING SHORT OF RWY. THOUGHT THE RADIO SEEMED QUIET BUT COULD NOT REACH MY CHART TO CHK FREQ. CONTINUED APCH WITH NO FURTHER RADIO CALLS SINCE I FIGURED I WAS ON WRONG FREQ. MADE LNDG AND TAXIED TO RAMP. DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL ANOTHER PLT APCHED ME ON GND; THAT I HAD CUT IN FRONT OF HIM ON HIS BASE TO FINAL TURN. HE WAS FORCED TO GO AROUND SINCE I WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. IF I HAD DOUBLE-CHKED THE FREQ BEFORE ENTERING THE LCL AREA AND ENTERED THE PATTERN ON DOWNWIND INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT-IN FINAL THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I BELIEVE THE HAZE PLAYED A SMALL PART IN MY NOT SEEING THE TFC. I SHOULD HAVE MADE THE FULL PATTERN TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR TFC CHKING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.