Near midair collision in the traffic pattern on downwind between 2 C172 pilots at apc, ca.

Attributes
ACN	555970
Time
Date	200208
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apc.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : apc.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : apc.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	555970
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Our aircraft was in right closed pattern runway 18R. Other aircraft called inbound from south, and was instructed to enter right downwind for runway 18R. Tower advised us of aircraft inbound from southwest. While on crosswind, approaching downwind, spotted aircraft immediately to our left, on a direct downwind entry. We pushed forward to dive below other aircraft. Total clearance was 100 ft or less. Immediately following, other aircraft advised tower of near miss. Poor initial position reporting of other aircraft with failure to enter at 45 degree point were main factors of occurrence. Also, failure on our part to scan entire area for traffic and poor entry instructions from tower controller. This problem could have been avoided if the tower had instructed aircraft to make a 45 degree entry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC IN THE TFC PATTERN ON DOWNWIND BTWN 2 C172 PLTS AT APC, CA.

Narrative: OUR ACFT WAS IN R CLOSED PATTERN RWY 18R. OTHER ACFT CALLED INBOUND FROM S, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO ENTER R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 18R. TWR ADVISED US OF ACFT INBOUND FROM SW. WHILE ON XWIND, APCHING DOWNWIND, SPOTTED ACFT IMMEDIATELY TO OUR L, ON A DIRECT DOWNWIND ENTRY. WE PUSHED FORWARD TO DIVE BELOW OTHER ACFT. TOTAL CLRNC WAS 100 FT OR LESS. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, OTHER ACFT ADVISED TWR OF NEAR MISS. POOR INITIAL POS RPTING OF OTHER ACFT WITH FAILURE TO ENTER AT 45 DEG POINT WERE MAIN FACTORS OF OCCURRENCE. ALSO, FAILURE ON OUR PART TO SCAN ENTIRE AREA FOR TFC AND POOR ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS FROM TWR CTLR. THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE TWR HAD INSTRUCTED ACFT TO MAKE A 45 DEG ENTRY.

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.