Training flight turns base, sights traffic returns to downwind. Descent on base turn causes low flig...

Attributes
ACN	200323
Time
Date	199201
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : npa airport : nps
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhn
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	200323
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While entering the traffic pattern I did not have my traffic in sight. I then proceeded to turn base, at that point I had my traffic in sight and had to extend my downwind to ensure proper spacing. Unknowingly, I turned my base leg over a loading dock (military). I feel that if the military does not want aircraft possibly flying over that area when necessary, they should make pilots aware of their loading dock and request pilots stay clear. I was unaware of this loading dock, and will stay clear next time. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states when he found it necessary to turn back to downwind he had started a descent and probably the low altitude was the problem. The FAA contacted him within 20 mins. He explained what happened. Told no further action. 3 weeks later received call asking for explanation. That's when he filed report. In response to question reference official business as referenced in AFD, stated that airport receives state funding so has opened airport to touch and go civilian traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRAINING FLT TURNS BASE, SIGHTS TFC RETURNS TO DOWNWIND. DSCNT ON BASE TURN CAUSES LOW FLT OVER MIL DOCK.

Narrative: WHILE ENTERING THE TFC PATTERN I DID NOT HAVE MY TFC IN SIGHT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN BASE, AT THAT POINT I HAD MY TFC IN SIGHT AND HAD TO EXTEND MY DOWNWIND TO ENSURE PROPER SPACING. UNKNOWINGLY, I TURNED MY BASE LEG OVER A LOADING DOCK (MIL). I FEEL THAT IF THE MIL DOES NOT WANT ACFT POSSIBLY FLYING OVER THAT AREA WHEN NECESSARY, THEY SHOULD MAKE PLTS AWARE OF THEIR LOADING DOCK AND REQUEST PLTS STAY CLR. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS LOADING DOCK, AND WILL STAY CLR NEXT TIME. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES WHEN HE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO TURN BACK TO DOWNWIND HE HAD STARTED A DSCNT AND PROBABLY THE LOW ALT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE FAA CONTACTED HIM WITHIN 20 MINS. HE EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. TOLD NO FURTHER ACTION. 3 WKS LATER RECEIVED CALL ASKING FOR EXPLANATION. THAT'S WHEN HE FILED RPT. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION REF OFFICIAL BUSINESS AS REFERENCED IN AFD, STATED THAT ARPT RECEIVES STATE FUNDING SO HAS OPENED ARPT TO TOUCH AND GO CIVILIAN TFC.

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.

Training flight turns base, sights traffic returns to downwind. Descent on base turn causes low flight over military dock.