General aviation aircraft training in the pattern at dto experienced conflict when turning base; fol...

Attributes
ACN	842417
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	DTO.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Other Base Leg
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cirrus Aircraft Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 9500 Flight Crew Type 125
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types
Miss Distance	Horizontal 6000 Vertical 200

Narrative:

The flight was a local instructional flight from our home airport; to dto to practice tower controlled procedures. After a full stop landing and taxi back to the end of the runway; we were cleared for takeoff on runway 35 and to perform a left closed pattern after takeoff. On the upwind leg the controller asked if we saw an aircraft on downwind at 11 o'clock and a mile from us. We replied that we did and were then instructed to follow that aircraft. At that time I started instructing my student as to the proper spacing to follow the other traffic. Apparently at this time the controller was instructing another aircraft on a straight in to be #2 behind the traffic we were following. Nothing was said to us. I thought that we were still #2 behind the traffic we were originally following. When we started turning base leg is when I spotted the aircraft on final; so I assumed control of the aircraft and turned behind the aircraft on final. At this time the controller asked us our tail number and informed me that we aren't to turn base until cleared to land. I elected to turn out of the pattern for our home field. I still don't know if he was correct and think that he should have instructed us to extend our downwind; but from now on I will be querying the controller for landing clearance prior to turning base.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General aviation aircraft training in the pattern at DTO experienced conflict when turning base; following traffic as instructed; ATC commenting that a landing clearance was required before turning base.

Narrative: The flight was a local instructional flight from our home airport; to DTO to practice tower controlled procedures. After a full stop landing and taxi back to the end of the runway; we were cleared for takeoff on Runway 35 and to perform a left closed pattern after takeoff. On the upwind leg the Controller asked if we saw an aircraft on downwind at 11 o'clock and a mile from us. We replied that we did and were then instructed to follow that aircraft. At that time I started instructing my student as to the proper spacing to follow the other traffic. Apparently at this time the Controller was instructing another aircraft on a straight in to be #2 behind the traffic we were following. Nothing was said to us. I thought that we were still #2 behind the traffic we were originally following. When we started turning base leg is when I spotted the aircraft on final; so I assumed control of the aircraft and turned behind the aircraft on final. At this time the Controller asked us our tail number and informed me that we aren't to turn base until cleared to land. I elected to turn out of the pattern for our home field. I still don't know if he was correct and think that he should have instructed us to extend our downwind; but from now on I will be querying the Controller for landing clearance prior to turning base.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

General aviation aircraft training in the pattern at dto experienced conflict when turning base; following traffic as instructed; ATC commenting that a landing clearance was required before turning base.