<< >> NASA ASRS Report 121471, August 1989

Light single engine aircraft with instructor and student landing at night at bfi is issued 'three sixty degree turn' instructions on short final due traffic on runway. Controlled flight toward terrain ensues.

Attributes
ACN	121471
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bfi
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 350
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bfi
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6100 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	121471
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My aircraft was 2 mi in trail of an small aircraft Y landing long. Was advised that we were overtaking, were cleared to land. At 200' controller called for 360 degree turn. Aircraft was at 58 KTS KIAS, 40 degree flaps, min power. Power was advanced (flight instructor flying), flaps reduced to 20 degree. Controller makes second call for 360 degree turn (controller frantic). Climbed to 350' MSL. Airspeed to 65 KTS, began left turn. After 180 degree of turn aircraft was flying low down I5 (freeway) in wrong direction. A close call for terrain clearance. My judgement in starting turn was poor. My concern is: at what altitude is a 360 degree turn not an option. Had private applicant been PIC he would have tried turn without climb, or proper terrain clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT SINGLE ENGINE ACFT WITH INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT LNDG AT NIGHT AT BFI IS ISSUED 'THREE SIXTY DEGREE TURN' INSTRUCTIONS ON SHORT FINAL DUE TRAFFIC ON RWY. CONTROLLED FLT TOWARD TERRAIN ENSUES.

Narrative: MY ACFT WAS 2 MI IN TRAIL OF AN SMA Y LNDG LONG. WAS ADVISED THAT WE WERE OVERTAKING, WERE CLRED TO LAND. AT 200' CTLR CALLED FOR 360 DEG TURN. ACFT WAS AT 58 KTS KIAS, 40 DEG FLAPS, MIN POWER. POWER WAS ADVANCED (FLT INSTRUCTOR FLYING), FLAPS REDUCED TO 20 DEG. CTLR MAKES SECOND CALL FOR 360 DEG TURN (CTLR FRANTIC). CLIMBED TO 350' MSL. AIRSPEED TO 65 KTS, BEGAN LEFT TURN. AFTER 180 DEG OF TURN ACFT WAS FLYING LOW DOWN I5 (FREEWAY) IN WRONG DIRECTION. A CLOSE CALL FOR TERRAIN CLRNC. MY JUDGEMENT IN STARTING TURN WAS POOR. MY CONCERN IS: AT WHAT ALT IS A 360 DEG TURN NOT AN OPTION. HAD PRIVATE APPLICANT BEEN PIC HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TURN WITHOUT CLIMB, OR PROPER TERRAIN CLRNC.

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.