Narrative:

My student and I made initial contact with kaeg tower; reported 6SM miles northwest of kabq and stated our intentions to fly into kaeg. Kaeg tower acknowledged our call and told us to fly the 45 degree entry to make right downwind for runway 22. We read back the clearance and proceeded to align ourselves to enter the 45 while descending to pattern altitude. When we were about midfield over the airport and still east of the assigned runway; the pilot of a aircraft Y came on the radio and queried the tower controller to see if he was talking to that guy over the volcanoes because that guy almost ran them over or was about to run them over. After hearing this; I determined that the guy the aircraft Y pilot was referring to was us and I immediately began looking for the aircraft Y and spotted him passing directly below us from left to right no more than about 200 ft below us. After hearing the aircraft Y pilot; the tower controller came on the radio and asked us what we were doing east of the runway as if we were not complying with his instruction to make right traffic. He then told us to make a hard right and fly a left downwind for runway 22 and to follow the aircraft Y. Once established on left downwind the controller came on the radio once again and asked why we were east of the airport when we reported 6SM northwest of kaeg on initial contact. I told him that I did not report 6SM northwest of kaeg on initial contact but that I was 6SM northwest of kabq inbound to kaeg to land. After I told him what I had said on initial contact he kept insisting I reported 6SM northwest of kaeg and started to become irate after I reiterated what I had told him and the conversation ceased after he cleared us for the option. About 10 minutes later after a few touch and goes the controller called us on the radio and told me that he finally understood what I had reported and apologized for the incident. Factors that contributed to the incident was the controllers lack of situational awareness; no traffic advisories regardless of aircraft(s) position; and my failure to make the position report in reference to the airport of intended use rather than the departure airport. No evasive action was taken on my part as I did not see the aircraft until it was too late and had already passed below us.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Instructor Pilot and his student experienced an NMAC with another aircraft in the pattern when there was a miscommunication with the tower regarding his position prior to entering the pattern. The reporter stated his position with reference to an airport other than the one of intended landing; leading the local controller to understand the aircraft's position to be 180 degrees opposite its actual location.

Narrative: My student and I made initial contact with KAEG tower; reported 6SM miles northwest of KABQ and stated our intentions to fly into KAEG. KAEG tower acknowledged our call and told us to fly the 45 degree entry to make right downwind for Runway 22. We read back the clearance and proceeded to align ourselves to enter the 45 while descending to pattern altitude. When we were about midfield over the airport and still east of the assigned runway; the pilot of a Aircraft Y came on the radio and queried the Tower Controller to see if he was talking to that guy over the volcanoes because that guy almost ran them over or was about to run them over. After hearing this; I determined that the guy the Aircraft Y pilot was referring to was us and I immediately began looking for the Aircraft Y and spotted him passing directly below us from left to right no more than about 200 ft below us. After hearing the Aircraft Y pilot; the Tower Controller came on the radio and asked us what we were doing east of the runway as if we were not complying with his instruction to make right traffic. He then told us to make a hard right and fly a left downwind for Runway 22 and to follow the Aircraft Y. Once established on left downwind the Controller came on the radio once again and asked why we were east of the airport when we reported 6SM northwest of KAEG on initial contact. I told him that I did not report 6SM northwest of KAEG on initial contact but that I was 6SM northwest of KABQ inbound to KAEG to land. After I told him what I had said on initial contact he kept insisting I reported 6SM northwest of KAEG and started to become irate after I reiterated what I had told him and the conversation ceased after he cleared us for the option. About 10 minutes later after a few touch and goes the controller called us on the radio and told me that he finally understood what I had reported and apologized for the incident. Factors that contributed to the incident was the controllers lack of situational awareness; no traffic advisories regardless of aircraft(s) position; and my failure to make the position report in reference to the airport of intended use rather than the departure airport. No evasive action was taken on my part as I did not see the aircraft until it was too late and had already passed below us.

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.