Aircraft on final approach made a turn away from an aircraft on base leg.

Attributes
ACN	148293
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : smf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : straight in arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	landing other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	148293
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on final to runway 16R at smf, we were cleared to land. We were somewhat high on final and asked the tower for a right 360 degree turn. This was denied because of traffic. We were told to continue. We were then pointed out traffic at 2 O'clock which appeared to be on downwind leg. As we continued the tower said we could turn right to a 250 degree heading. We looked in that direction and noticed an light transport turning toward us on a base leg. We told the tower we could nt accept that turn as that would take us closer to the light transport. We continued toward the runway. We then noticed the light transport also turning toward the runway. We initiated a left descending turn to avoid a possible conflict. The light transport then began a turn to the right away from us. We continued to the airport and landed on runway 16R. This appears to be a breakdown in communications between the light transport and the tower. The light transport was supposed to have turned final behind us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT ON FINAL APCH MADE A TURN AWAY FROM AN ACFT ON BASE LEG.

Narrative: WHILE ON FINAL TO RWY 16R AT SMF, WE WERE CLRED TO LAND. WE WERE SOMEWHAT HIGH ON FINAL AND ASKED THE TWR FOR A RIGHT 360 DEG TURN. THIS WAS DENIED BECAUSE OF TFC. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTINUE. WE WERE THEN POINTED OUT TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK WHICH APPEARED TO BE ON DOWNWIND LEG. AS WE CONTINUED THE TWR SAID WE COULD TURN RIGHT TO A 250 DEG HDG. WE LOOKED IN THAT DIRECTION AND NOTICED AN LTT TURNING TOWARD US ON A BASE LEG. WE TOLD THE TWR WE COULD NT ACCEPT THAT TURN AS THAT WOULD TAKE US CLOSER TO THE LTT. WE CONTINUED TOWARD THE RWY. WE THEN NOTICED THE LTT ALSO TURNING TOWARD THE RWY. WE INITIATED A LEFT DSNDING TURN TO AVOID A POSSIBLE CONFLICT. THE LTT THEN BEGAN A TURN TO THE RIGHT AWAY FROM US. WE CONTINUED TO THE ARPT AND LANDED ON RWY 16R. THIS APPEARS TO BE A BREAKDOWN IN COMS BTWN THE LTT AND THE TWR. THE LTT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TURNED FINAL BEHIND US.

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