Tower cleared aircraft for downwind which was not the aircraft he thought.

Attributes
ACN	116101
Time
Date	198906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ith
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ith
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 85
ASRS Report	116101
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was 5 mi from the ithaca airport. The tower had told me to set up for a right downwind for runway 32. An small aircraft called in reporting 12 mi out and informed the tower he would be overtaking my aircraft. Tower told him to continue on in and set up for right downwind runway 32. The small aircraft called tower and asked for my altitude and location. At that time the tower called me and asked for that information. I reported I was at 2200 3 mi north. The tower then called the small aircraft and relayed the information and then telling him I was setting up for left downwind. I then called the tower and asked him if he wanted me to go right or left downwind for 32. He informed me to make left downwind (crossing over the end of runway 14). I was at 2100 and 1 mi north when the tower asked the small aircraft to flash his landing lights. He then said he had me in sight and not the small aircraft. It was just a few seconds later the small aircraft came over my right side and then dropped down on my left to avoid me. Important note was the whole time when in contact with the tower there was loud music being played.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR CLEARED ACFT FOR DOWNWIND WHICH WAS NOT THE ACFT HE THOUGHT.

Narrative: I WAS 5 MI FROM THE ITHACA ARPT. THE TWR HAD TOLD ME TO SET UP FOR A RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 32. AN SMA CALLED IN REPORTING 12 MI OUT AND INFORMED THE TWR HE WOULD BE OVERTAKING MY ACFT. TWR TOLD HIM TO CONTINUE ON IN AND SET UP FOR RIGHT DOWNWIND RWY 32. THE SMA CALLED TWR AND ASKED FOR MY ALT AND LOCATION. AT THAT TIME THE TWR CALLED ME AND ASKED FOR THAT INFO. I REPORTED I WAS AT 2200 3 MI N. THE TWR THEN CALLED THE SMA AND RELAYED THE INFO AND THEN TELLING HIM I WAS SETTING UP FOR LEFT DOWNWIND. I THEN CALLED THE TWR AND ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED ME TO GO RIGHT OR LEFT DOWNWIND FOR 32. HE INFORMED ME TO MAKE LEFT DOWNWIND (XING OVER THE END OF RWY 14). I WAS AT 2100 AND 1 MI N WHEN THE TWR ASKED THE SMA TO FLASH HIS LNDG LIGHTS. HE THEN SAID HE HAD ME IN SIGHT AND NOT THE SMA. IT WAS JUST A FEW SECONDS LATER THE SMA CAME OVER MY RIGHT SIDE AND THEN DROPPED DOWN ON MY LEFT TO AVOID ME. IMPORTANT NOTE WAS THE WHOLE TIME WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TWR THERE WAS LOUD MUSIC BEING PLAYED.

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.