This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
When approaching for landing in a Cessna 172, I was at pattern altitude and announced myself 5 miles southwest of the airport for landing.
I was nearing my turn to enter downwind when a PA-28 reported 10 miles west inbound, so we should have had several miles separation.
I noticed my Garmin indicated ADS-B traffic 600 feet above me at my location.
I didn’t know who that was, but I was looking the best I could in a high-wing airplane. He was descending and I made S-turns to see him.
I spotted him about 200 feet horizontally and 50 feet above me headed toward the airport. I took evasive action and broadcast on the CTAF that he said he was 10 miles west.
He responded, “oh sorry, I guess it was 5 miles.”
Then he said he saw me, but I don’t know when he saw me.
This indicates the dangers of relying on pilots to report their position, and the danger of descending into traffic patterns. I consider it an ADS-B save.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2117099
When you click on the link it will take you to the ASRS Online Database. Click on Report Number and put the ACN in the search box, then click Search. On that page, click on “view only the 1 most recent report.”
I’m guessing he took the ‘0.5’ on his screen to be a ‘5’. Not beyond comprehension.
I had the same experience about a dozen years ago. Student pilot reported that he was on a 5 mile final just as I was turning to final from base (1/2 mile final). Starting my turn, and there he was: not a couple hundred feet off my nose.
Where some of these people get their distance data from is beyond comprehension…