Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 73; Flight Crew Total 315; Flight Crew Type 315
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Aircraft
My student and I had been cleared by Denver Approach for a visual approach into FNL. Approach instructed us to switch to Tower and we did (FNL is towered E airspace). My student told Tower we were from the south. Tower asked us if we were setting up for a right downwind for Runway 15. We confirmed we were. Tower instructed us to report 2 miles south of the airport. They asked us if we had traffic in sight and we confirmed that we did. Tower told us we were number 3. I saw on the traffic map that there was one aircraft on final and another on downwind. I assumed these two planes were the aircraft that Tower was referring too. We were on midfield right downwind about 2 miles south and reported to Tower where we were. Tower asked us if we had upwind traffic insight and to follow them. I clarified with Tower that we were already on downwind ahead of that aircraft. Tower cleared us to land runway 15; number 2. I verified on the traffic map that there was one aircraft in front of us and visually as well. I saw that there were at least two aircraft behind us in the pattern. I told my student to wait till the aircraft was past our abeam point; as we were on downwind and the aircraft ahead of us was on final; to provide more spacing between us. Once the aircraft was past our abeam point my student turned right base. My student rolled wings level and we both checked final for aircraft; neither of us saw any. My student turned final. We were about 500-600 feet AGL when Aircraft Y appeared from under our left wing in front of us. My student configured the plane for a go-around as I told him to immediately turn to the North. I called Tower and told them that an aircraft had cut us off and that we were departing to the North. Tower came back and told us to do a 270 turn. We complied. As we were turning I remembered and saw the two aircraft on downwind. We called Tower to confirm that we were number 1 and cleared to land Runway 15. Tower confirmed. We landed with no further issues. Tower didn't say anything to Aircraft Y or us. I never heard Aircraft Y make any calls to Tower or Tower to them. Aircraft Y never appeared on our traffic map and we never got a traffic alert. I believe there was a miscommunication between Tower and Aircraft Y and Aircraft Y thought they were cleared to land. To prevent this occurrence from happening again I believe Tower needs radar or some other form of technology that shows their airspace and the aircraft in it.
Pilot reported a NMAC on final to FNL airport.