A VFR BE35 private pilot turns a close base leg and has a traffic conflict with aircraft on final at...

Attributes
ACN	535563
Time
Date	200201
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ith.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ith.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ith.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 2235 flight time type : 1882
ASRS Report	535563
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The tower instructed me to report 2 mi right base. I was close to final approach. As I was about to report my distance, a plane reported on final. I did not see the traffic. I turned to the right so I would not conflict head on. The tower then told me to extend my downwind but as instructed, I was on base and almost ready to turn final. So I told the tower I was heading north and turning right. I felt that was most away from traffic on final. I flew a 360 degree heading, was then cleared to land and the traffic was on the runway. I had not heard the other plane check in sooner. In retrospect, I should have turned left into a downwind. But not seeing the other plane and I thought I must have been close, I reacted to what seemed safest at the time. I was surprised the tower thought I was on downwind after being told to report 2 mi right base. I thought he didn't know where I was.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VFR BE35 PVT PLT TURNS A CLOSE BASE LEG AND HAS A TFC CONFLICT WITH ACFT ON FINAL AT ITH, NY.

Narrative: THE TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO RPT 2 MI R BASE. I WAS CLOSE TO FINAL APCH. AS I WAS ABOUT TO RPT MY DISTANCE, A PLANE RPTED ON FINAL. I DID NOT SEE THE TFC. I TURNED TO THE R SO I WOULD NOT CONFLICT HEAD ON. THE TWR THEN TOLD ME TO EXTEND MY DOWNWIND BUT AS INSTRUCTED, I WAS ON BASE AND ALMOST READY TO TURN FINAL. SO I TOLD THE TWR I WAS HDG N AND TURNING R. I FELT THAT WAS MOST AWAY FROM TFC ON FINAL. I FLEW A 360 DEG HDG, WAS THEN CLRED TO LAND AND THE TFC WAS ON THE RWY. I HAD NOT HEARD THE OTHER PLANE CHK IN SOONER. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE TURNED L INTO A DOWNWIND. BUT NOT SEEING THE OTHER PLANE AND I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE BEEN CLOSE, I REACTED TO WHAT SEEMED SAFEST AT THE TIME. I WAS SURPRISED THE TWR THOUGHT I WAS ON DOWNWIND AFTER BEING TOLD TO RPT 2 MI R BASE. I THOUGHT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS.

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.

A VFR BE35 private pilot turns a close base leg and has a traffic conflict with aircraft on final at ith, ny.