Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 900; Flight Crew Type 500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
The Tower requested our aircraft to extend the left downwind leg; and we would be #3 [for landing]. The new student I was instructing did not quite understand what this meant so I began to explain it to him in the aircraft. We were looking for the #2 traffic; to being following him towards the field. The student accidentally identified the #1 aircraft for the field as the #2; and we began a left base leg after reporting this to the Tower; who cleared us for the turn. We inadvertently flew in front of the #2 traffic; who did have us in sight. The Tower then asked us to 'verify the type of aircraft we were following'; at which point I noticed the type aircraft that we were supposed to follow on a long final. I took over the controls from the student; announced that we were flying 'base heading' and advanced the throttle to full to get as clear of the [other aircraft's] final approach course as possible. The Tower asked for a right 270 degree turn to rejoin final and we landed without incident. I was asked to contact the Tower upon switching to Ground frequency; and the Controller and I had a conversation about what happened.
While operating in the traffic pattern with a flight instructor; a student pilot did not comprehend the landing pattern flow and turned in front of an aircraft on a straight in approach. Following prompting by the Tower Controller; the instructor recognized the conflict; took over the controls; and extended the base leg. The Tower provided a clearance for a circle back to final approach for landing.