Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 215; Flight Crew Total 1000; Flight Crew Type 600
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I was doing my CFII training with another instructor this evening when an issue occurred. I was positioned right seat; as he was left acting as safety pilot and PIC. We were cleared for ILS 7L by Daytona Approach. Daytona Approach tells us to slow from 100 KTS to 90 KTS for sequence. We complied and slowed the aircraft to 90 KTS. We were instructed to switch to Daytona Beach Tower. We established contact with tower and were cleared low approach for RWY 7L. Localizer and Glideslope were centered throughout the approach. TCAS warning system went off inside the aircraft to warn us of a nearby airplane. We could not see the airplane because he was in our blind spot (high wing airplane). My safety pilot tried calling Tower to ask what our instructions were and where the traffic was. At that time; tower frequency was blocked by multiple aircraft calling at once. At roughly 500 feet MSL; I was instructed to look outside by my safety pilot to find a low wing airplane to our 9 to 10 o'clock position at same altitude; converging at a very scary close distance. My safety pilot took evasive action and dove towards the ground initially to avoid an immediate collision. We both thought we heard orders 'side step to the right' by tower as multiple aircraft were still stepping on each other. We both agreed to turn right 20 degrees and level off momentarily. After turning right 20 degrees and started an initial climb; we find another aircraft on final for 7R approach at the same altitude not far from our current position. We both decided to split the difference of the two runways and headed 070 between Runway 7L and Runway 7R; climbing at Vx airspeed to get as much altitude as possible. At a safe altitude (1200 feet MSL); we switched back to Daytona Approach because tower frequency was still clogged up with radio calls. We exited Class C airspace to the south and headed to home base.
Just unnerving that if we had done exactly as we were instructed and had not had traffic collision avoidance in our aircraft there is a good chance my student and I would not be here right now.
Two instructors working together reported an NMAC on approach to DAB. Reporters were critical of ATC handling.