Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 490; Flight Crew Type 40
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport; Procedure
We were approximately 3 NM southeast of JKA establishing our aircraft inbound in the 45 degree entry to the left downwind for Runway 27. We had previously broken off our approach due to traffic congestion and lack of separation. When attempting to re-enter the pattern via the 45 degree entry; a banner tow pilot passed about 100 feet directly below us in a perpendicular direction to our flight path. We never heard any of his traffic calls and by the time we saw him pass underneath us I took the controls and initiated a climb to increase separation. Banner tow operations are continuously in effect approximately 3 NM south of JKA. When Runway 27 is the active runway there is not enough distance between the banner tow traffic and the traffic flow into JKA.
An instructor pilot took control of the aircraft at 1;000 feet on final to CTAF JKA after a banner tow aircraft passed directly below without any communications.