Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 45; Flight Crew Type 45
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
I'm a student pilot and was flying solo; practicing closed traffic at Whiteman Airport. It was a busy day with multiple aircraft in the general area; including other students working a closed traffic pattern. When abeam the tower on the downwind leg in the left traffic pattern; I had put in a request for landing with the Tower. The Tower cleared me for landing as number 3; saying '(call sign) number three follow the Cessna opposite downwind.' I acknowledged 'number three for landing (call sign).' I looked around in the pattern; and thought I saw two aircraft; one crossing the fence and one on final; so I turned to base for landing. That's when I received a call from the Tower; 'what are you doing (call sign)?' I looked to my right and saw an aircraft; the Cessna I was supposed to be following; on a right traffic pattern on base; approximately a half mile to my 1 o'clock. The pilot of the other aircraft announced he was doing a 360 left; and the Tower told me to land right way; so I did so; turning to final early to avoid the other aircraft. I believe the error was my lack of familiarity with the phrase 'opposite downwind'; a phrase that had not come up in my previous instruction. Because I didn't fully understand the request; I believed I was told I was number three after a Cessna on left pattern. I thought I had both aircraft in sight proceeded to turn base for landing; and did not look out in the right hand pattern direction for conflicting traffic.
C172 solo student pilot is instructed by the Tower that he is 'number three follow the Cessna opposite downwind.' The student does not comprehend the meaning of this clearance and turns base in conflict with the aircraft he was to follow.