Reporter aircraft entered airport traffic pattern ahead of traffic already in downwind pattern.

Attributes
ACN	113016
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bed
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bed
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 330 flight time type : 85
ASRS Report	113016
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Following an IFR flight from pvc, mostly in IMC with light rain and turbulence with reports of thunderstorms in area, was vectored extensively to avoid TCA penetration (common in boston area). Finally, when 3 mi from area with airport in sight, cancelled IFR and contacted tower. Made normal entry to left downwind but at a faster speed than normal. 2 aircraft were on downwind in closed traffic and I entered ahead of them, judging the distance to be ok. Controller advised other traffic to follow aircraft which had 'just entered downwind dangerously'. I probably was too close to other traffic which was not easy to see in the hazy light conditions. Had I seen them I would have been reluctant to execute a 360 degree turn without advice from ATC regarding other aircraft. Factors: too fast following extensive vectoring, poor visibility, no advice from ATC, poor judgement of closing speeds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER ACFT ENTERED ARPT TRAFFIC PATTERN AHEAD OF TRAFFIC ALREADY IN DOWNWIND PATTERN.

Narrative: FOLLOWING AN IFR FLT FROM PVC, MOSTLY IN IMC WITH LIGHT RAIN AND TURBULENCE WITH REPORTS OF TSTMS IN AREA, WAS VECTORED EXTENSIVELY TO AVOID TCA PENETRATION (COMMON IN BOSTON AREA). FINALLY, WHEN 3 MI FROM AREA WITH ARPT IN SIGHT, CANCELLED IFR AND CONTACTED TWR. MADE NORMAL ENTRY TO LEFT DOWNWIND BUT AT A FASTER SPEED THAN NORMAL. 2 ACFT WERE ON DOWNWIND IN CLOSED TFC AND I ENTERED AHEAD OF THEM, JUDGING THE DISTANCE TO BE OK. CTLR ADVISED OTHER TFC TO FOLLOW ACFT WHICH HAD 'JUST ENTERED DOWNWIND DANGEROUSLY'. I PROBABLY WAS TOO CLOSE TO OTHER TFC WHICH WAS NOT EASY TO SEE IN THE HAZY LIGHT CONDITIONS. HAD I SEEN THEM I WOULD HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO EXECUTE A 360 DEG TURN WITHOUT ADVICE FROM ATC REGARDING OTHER ACFT. FACTORS: TOO FAST FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE VECTORING, POOR VISIBILITY, NO ADVICE FROM ATC, POOR JUDGEMENT OF CLOSING SPEEDS.

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.