C150 pilot reports losing track of the C172 ahead in the traffic pattern and turning crosswind too e...

Attributes
ACN	1210978
Time
Date	201410
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 285 Flight Crew Type 32
Person 2
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 49 Flight Crew Total 244 Flight Crew Type 141
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Miss Distance	Horizontal 150 Vertical 250

Narrative:

The event occurred during a flying competition. Just before take-off a change was made so that my aircraft would become the third in a heat of four aircraft that would be making circuits in the pattern around the airfield. The original plan was for my aircraft to be number one in a heat of two. Upon reaching the end of runway xx there were two aircraft from the heat before us waiting for take-off clearance. The four aircraft were notified that the two heats of two aircraft would be combined to one heat of four just before take-off via tower frequency. I did not know of this change until the second of the four aircraft were departing. Realizing I had mis-dialed the tower frequency; I changed to the proper frequency and realized the change to the number of aircraft in the heat. I quickly acknowledged the change and took runway xx to depart about 45 seconds behind the aircraft ahead. Aircraft in the pattern were calling mid-field downwind for landing clearance. After my second landing of three I heard what I thought was the aircraft ahead call mid-field downwind as I was crossing the end of runway xx on an upwind. I proceeded to turn crosswind and the tower controller notified me that I had turned ahead of the aircraft that was ahead of me in the heat. I quickly spotted the aircraft about 300 feet above and 200 feet out to my 11 o clock. Keeping the aircraft in sight I turned underneath and proceeded in the pattern in slow flight to increase the separation between our aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 pilot reports losing track of the C172 ahead in the traffic pattern and turning crosswind too early resulting in a NMAC. The Tower called out the potential conflict and both pilots took evasive action. The C172 pilot's report is also included.

Narrative: The event occurred during a Flying Competition. Just before take-off a change was made so that my aircraft would become the third in a heat of four aircraft that would be making circuits in the pattern around the airfield. The original plan was for my aircraft to be number one in a heat of two. Upon reaching the end of Runway XX there were two aircraft from the heat before us waiting for take-off clearance. The four aircraft were notified that the two heats of two aircraft would be combined to one heat of four just before take-off via tower frequency. I did not know of this change until the second of the four aircraft were departing. Realizing I had mis-dialed the Tower frequency; I changed to the proper frequency and realized the change to the number of aircraft in the heat. I quickly acknowledged the change and took Runway XX to depart about 45 seconds behind the aircraft ahead. Aircraft in the pattern were calling mid-field downwind for landing clearance. After my second landing of three I heard what I thought was the aircraft ahead call mid-field downwind as I was crossing the end of runway XX on an upwind. I proceeded to turn crosswind and the tower controller notified me that I had turned ahead of the aircraft that was ahead of me in the heat. I quickly spotted the aircraft about 300 feet above and 200 feet out to my 11 o clock. Keeping the aircraft in sight I turned underneath and proceeded in the pattern in slow flight to increase the separation between our aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

C150 pilot reports losing track of the C172 ahead in the traffic pattern and turning crosswind too early resulting in a near midair collision. The tower called out the potential conflict and both pilots took evasive action. The C172 pilot's report is also included.