Close proximity GA small aircraft entering sna traffic and small aircraft in the pattern.

Attributes
ACN	157269
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sna artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	157269
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

In small aircraft X I was returning from sna's local practice area outside the sna arsa. I contacted approach and received clearance into sna's arsa. The approach controller then gave me a frequency change to sna tower. After tuning in tower frequency I made my initial call up. Approximately 4 mi southwest sna. The controller was very busy (appeared to be overloaded) at the point I decided to continue into the pattern. (I did not want to conflict with other traffic departing or returning into sna). I continued to call sna tower but could not get a response from the controller. As I entered downwind a departing small aircraft Y flew under us by approximately 100'. At this time the controller acknowledged me and cleared me to land. I believe the problem arose because of the late handoff from approach, the overloading of sna's controller, and my decision to continue into the traffic pattern west/O contact with sna's tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA SMA ENTERING SNA TRAFFIC AND SMA IN THE PATTERN.

Narrative: IN SMA X I WAS RETURNING FROM SNA'S LCL PRACTICE AREA OUTSIDE THE SNA ARSA. I CONTACTED APCH AND RECEIVED CLRNC INTO SNA'S ARSA. THE APCH CTLR THEN GAVE ME A FREQ CHANGE TO SNA TWR. AFTER TUNING IN TWR FREQ I MADE MY INITIAL CALL UP. APPROX 4 MI SW SNA. THE CTLR WAS VERY BUSY (APPEARED TO BE OVERLOADED) AT THE POINT I DECIDED TO CONTINUE INTO THE PATTERN. (I DID NOT WANT TO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC DEPARTING OR RETURNING INTO SNA). I CONTINUED TO CALL SNA TWR BUT COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THE CTLR. AS I ENTERED DOWNWIND A DEPARTING SMA Y FLEW UNDER US BY APPROX 100'. AT THIS TIME THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED ME AND CLRED ME TO LAND. I BELIEVE THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE OF THE LATE HDOF FROM APCH, THE OVERLOADING OF SNA'S CTLR, AND MY DECISION TO CONTINUE INTO THE TFC PATTERN W/O CONTACT WITH SNA'S TWR.

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.