Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 430; Flight Crew Type 80
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I was conducting a flight to LVK. I was descending and called LVK Tower over Los Vaqueros Reservoir giving LVK Tower my position; altitude; and intentions. LVK instructed me to expedite my decent and land on 25R. I descended at Vno 128 knots. About half way to the airport; approximately 5 miles; LVK Tower again called me and instructed me to expedite my approach for 25R; I answered 'Roger' and my call aircraft tail number.I had my my aircraft configured for a short landing with 30 degrees of flaps; in an attempt to expedite my departure off the runway. At 100 feet AGL; LVK Tower instructed me to initiate a 'go around;' as I had faster traffic approaching behind me. I was then instructed by the LVK Tower to make a slight turn to the left for safety; then instructed again to turn farther left. I entered a left downwind for a 'go around' for 25R.  I never heard the Tower instruct me to land on 25L and I never read back any new instructions to land on 25L. I was on a left downwind for 25R; when the Tower instructed me to extend my downwind and I was number three; I never saw any of the other aircraft. The LVK Tower instructed me to turn left base; and I complied. As I was turning final for 25R; my passenger saw an aircraft at our 5 o'clock position; and approximately 100 feet higher than us. I observed Aircraft Y descending to our right approximately 450 feet away; I altered my course to the left and immediately contacted LVK Tower to inform [them] of the traffic to my right. I was instructed that I was supposed to be landing on 25L. I immediately side-stepped to 25L; Aircraft Y called in and initiated a go around. Upon landing I was instructed to call the Tower. When I called the Tower; I was informed that a trainee had been controlling during my approach and that a Supervisor had to take over the Controller functions for that person. I believe this incident was caused by inexperienced personnel working the Tower with too much going on at one time for an inexperienced Controller to handle. I should never have been made to initiated a go around at 100 foot AGL and less that a mile from the end of the runway. And if made to do a go around; I should have been fully vectored in the direction the Controller wanted me to turn and what he/she expected me to do.  I should have been instructed that I was expected to land on a different runway than the one I was originally instructed to land on.
A C172 pilot had a near miss with another aircraft on short final for LVK Runway 25R after a Tower mandated go around because high speed traffic was descending for the same runway.