Number 2 aircraft in flight of 2 entered a left downwind instead of following the number 1 aircraft ...

Attributes
ACN	106446
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pie
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pie
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 336 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	106446
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a night VFR flight with another airplane. We were a flight of 2 'not in formation.' I was in agreement with the other pilot that I would work the radios if he would monitor and comply with ATC instructions. The pilot of aircraft #2 failed to monitor the frequency in use. We were cleared to land on runway 9 'not in formation,' as we proceeded with our approach tower advised us that ground cleared an small transport to taxi on 27 for takeoff. They then told us to climb to 1600' MSL and enter a right downwind for 27. I then entered a right downwind for runway 27. Aircraft #2 then called tower to find out why I entered a right downwind, they told him and wanted him on a right downwind to follow me. He then said 'roger,' and entered a left downwind for 27 and descended to 1000' MSL. Tower saw his mistake and cleared him to land because he was lower than I was. Tower then advised me that they would call my base leg, I complied. When he landed they cleared me to land everything seemed to be very smooth. There wasn't a conflict with any other traffic or controllers. I have learned that I should not make flts with inexperienced pilots in any form.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NUMBER 2 ACFT IN FLT OF 2 ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE NUMBER 1 ACFT ON THE ASSIGNED RIGHT DOWNWIND. APPARENTLY NO CONFLICT AROSE BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION.

Narrative: I WAS ON A NIGHT VFR FLT WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE. WE WERE A FLT OF 2 'NOT IN FORMATION.' I WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER PLT THAT I WOULD WORK THE RADIOS IF HE WOULD MONITOR AND COMPLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS. THE PLT OF ACFT #2 FAILED TO MONITOR THE FREQ IN USE. WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 9 'NOT IN FORMATION,' AS WE PROCEEDED WITH OUR APCH TWR ADVISED US THAT GND CLRED AN SMT TO TAXI ON 27 FOR TKOF. THEY THEN TOLD US TO CLB TO 1600' MSL AND ENTER A RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR 27. I THEN ENTERED A RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 27. ACFT #2 THEN CALLED TWR TO FIND OUT WHY I ENTERED A RIGHT DOWNWIND, THEY TOLD HIM AND WANTED HIM ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND TO FOLLOW ME. HE THEN SAID 'ROGER,' AND ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR 27 AND DSNDED TO 1000' MSL. TWR SAW HIS MISTAKE AND CLRED HIM TO LAND BECAUSE HE WAS LOWER THAN I WAS. TWR THEN ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD CALL MY BASE LEG, I COMPLIED. WHEN HE LANDED THEY CLRED ME TO LAND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE VERY SMOOTH. THERE WASN'T A CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER TFC OR CTLRS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT I SHOULD NOT MAKE FLTS WITH INEXPERIENCED PLTS IN ANY FORM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

Number 2 aircraft in flight of 2 entered a left downwind instead of following the number 1 aircraft on the assigned right downwind. Apparently no conflict arose because of this action.