Cirrus SR22 pilot has an airborne conflict in the pattern at pao.

Attributes
ACN	723908
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pao.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	SR22
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 175 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	723908
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was coming in to land at pao airport. I was on the left downwind for runway 31. I was also told I was #3 for landing. When I saw traffic directly abeam my left wing; I asked the control tower if 'the plane parallel to me is my traffic?' he said 'yes.' so I followed the traffic in. However; seconds later; I heard another airplane say we had to take evasive action to avoid a midair collision. I continued on to land; and once was clear of runway 31; I called ground and told them I was ready to taxi to my tie-down. He stated; 'give way to the airplane in front of you; the one you almost already hit; and then proceed to parking.' when I got home; I called pao tower and asked them why I was cleared to follow the traffic parallel to me when it wasn't my traffic. They claimed that there were 2 planes parallel to me; and that I was cleared to follow the traffic parallel to me on the right downwind; not the plane on final parallel to me. However; this kind of 'parallel' description was not given to me in the air while on left downwind. All in all; when I asked specifically; 'do I follow the traffic parallel to me?' they said 'follow that traffic.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CIRRUS SR22 PLT HAS AN AIRBORNE CONFLICT IN THE PATTERN AT PAO.

Narrative: I WAS COMING IN TO LAND AT PAO ARPT. I WAS ON THE L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 31. I WAS ALSO TOLD I WAS #3 FOR LNDG. WHEN I SAW TFC DIRECTLY ABEAM MY L WING; I ASKED THE CTL TWR IF 'THE PLANE PARALLEL TO ME IS MY TFC?' HE SAID 'YES.' SO I FOLLOWED THE TFC IN. HOWEVER; SECONDS LATER; I HEARD ANOTHER AIRPLANE SAY WE HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION. I CONTINUED ON TO LAND; AND ONCE WAS CLR OF RWY 31; I CALLED GND AND TOLD THEM I WAS READY TO TAXI TO MY TIE-DOWN. HE STATED; 'GIVE WAY TO THE AIRPLANE IN FRONT OF YOU; THE ONE YOU ALMOST ALREADY HIT; AND THEN PROCEED TO PARKING.' WHEN I GOT HOME; I CALLED PAO TWR AND ASKED THEM WHY I WAS CLRED TO FOLLOW THE TFC PARALLEL TO ME WHEN IT WASN'T MY TFC. THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE 2 PLANES PARALLEL TO ME; AND THAT I WAS CLRED TO FOLLOW THE TFC PARALLEL TO ME ON THE R DOWNWIND; NOT THE PLANE ON FINAL PARALLEL TO ME. HOWEVER; THIS KIND OF 'PARALLEL' DESCRIPTION WAS NOT GIVEN TO ME IN THE AIR WHILE ON L DOWNWIND. ALL IN ALL; WHEN I ASKED SPECIFICALLY; 'DO I FOLLOW THE TFC PARALLEL TO ME?' THEY SAID 'FOLLOW THAT TFC.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.