Narrative:

I was establishing myself on a left downwind at pattern altitude for runway 9 at arrival and was in communication with the tower. When I was approximately 1 mi northeast of the departure end of runway 9, I observed a twin engine aircraft lifting off runway 9. The twin began a turn to the left crosswind just off the departure end with a high rate of climb. At that point, I perceived the twin would get in close proximity to my position on downwind and I did not believe the pilot of the twin had my aircraft in sight. Therefore, I immediately began a descending right turn ot the north to avoid any possible conflict. I attempted to maintain visibility contact with the twin throughout my turn and I did not observe the twin alter his flight path. After establishing myself back on downwind, I observed the twin flying an extended looping pattern for landing again on runway 9. I believe the failure of the twin's pilot to maintain the proper outside vigilance in a busy VFR terminal environment to be the cause of this possible conflict.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA-SMA GA-SMT IN TRAFFIC AT ARR.

Narrative: I WAS ESTABLISHING MYSELF ON A LEFT DOWNWIND AT PATTERN ALT FOR RWY 9 AT ARR AND WAS IN COM WITH THE TWR. WHEN I WAS APPROX 1 MI NE OF THE DEP END OF RWY 9, I OBSERVED A TWIN ENG ACFT LIFTING OFF RWY 9. THE TWIN BEGAN A TURN TO THE LEFT XWIND JUST OFF THE DEP END WITH A HIGH RATE OF CLB. AT THAT POINT, I PERCEIVED THE TWIN WOULD GET IN CLOSE PROX TO MY POS ON DOWNWIND AND I DID NOT BELIEVE THE PLT OF THE TWIN HAD MY ACFT IN SIGHT. THEREFORE, I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSNDING RIGHT TURN OT THE N TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT. I ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN VIS CONTACT WITH THE TWIN THROUGHOUT MY TURN AND I DID NOT OBSERVE THE TWIN ALTER HIS FLT PATH. AFTER ESTABLISHING MYSELF BACK ON DOWNWIND, I OBSERVED THE TWIN FLYING AN EXTENDED LOOPING PATTERN FOR LNDG AGAIN ON RWY 9. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE TWIN'S PLT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER OUTSIDE VIGILANCE IN A BUSY VFR TERMINAL ENVIRONMENT TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS POSSIBLE CONFLICT.

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.