PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 500
Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During airfield over flight to enter down wind to Runway 13 heard Cessna report on downwind for Runway 13. We were trying to locate traffic. We were in a position over downwind to start our descent to TPA. While descending we made another radio call that we were descending to the north of the airport to enter down wind. At approximately 2;600 FT MSL the Cessna aircraft passed in front of us from right to left at our altitude. At the same time the Instructor pilot from the Cessna asked 'what are you doing; Pass behind us...' At approx the same time we saw the traffic and made a slight turn to increase the distance of the aircraft and proceeded to enter the pattern.There was a haze in the sky that made it very difficult to locate a white aircraft on a white back drop with the sunlight also very bright in the early morning. In our opinion; Cessna aircraft could have made more traffic calls on location. Cannot determine if the Cessna had us in sight but clearly saw us before we saw them. In this case they should have made adjustments to avoid our flight path by changing altitude. The traffic pattern conducted by the Cessna was a little larger than we fly; we expected to be clear of traffic. Also it appeared that they were flying 200 FT high. We could've asked and verified the aircraft position prior to initiating descent to TPA.
PA44 pilot entering the traffic pattern on downwind reports a NMAC with a C172 in the pattern and also on downwind. The C172 pilot apparently had the PA44 in sight but the PA44 pilot did not see the C172 until they were very close.