Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 900; Flight Crew Type 800
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Approaching Merrill Field from the northeast from the highway; we were instructed to enter the left downwind for Runway 7 and report Clark Middle School. Upon reporting we were at traffic pattern altitude of 900 FT. Tower instructed us to extend left downwind because of landing traffic at 1;800 FT. We had traffic in sight and turned left base over the downtown shoreline. We took a wide base turn because my student was flying. We were then set up for a long final approach. Landing traffic was clear the runway and we were cleared to land on Runway 7. Upon flying over the Sheraton Hotel (a notable landmark for its location to the traffic patterns of Merrill Field) we were approximately 500 FT MSL when my student called out traffic abeam to our right at our altitude. I saw the pilot of the other plane and it was close; maybe 200 FT by my perception. We immediately dove to the left. The [other aircraft] immediately banked away and to the right.Upon landing; I called the Merrill Field Tower to complain. They indicated that we were not at fault at all. The other aircraft did not listen to three instructions to follow behind us. Apparently the [other aircraft] claimed they were mistakenly following a military aircraft at Elmendorf AFB; which I think is a complete bunch of BS. I told the Tower Controller I wanted to pursue this with the FAA because I was not pleased at the other pilot's lack of situational awareness; attention on the radio; and overall flying abilities that I have never had anything like this happen before.The Tower Manager called me back; after having pulled the radar and radio tapes. He told me that the other aircraft did not listen to instruction; and that it was 1/20th of a mile (250 FT) from us on a T-Bone 90 degree intercept. I cannot believe how close this was. Assuming that plane was flying 70 KTS; we had 2 seconds before impact. I can't believe that pilot's poor attention to let something like this happen.
Small aircraft instructor pilot reported an NMAC with another small aircraft in the pattern at MRI.