Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 15; Flight Crew Type 15
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
I was flying in a training flight with my instructor. We were returning from pattern practice; and had been cleared by the tower official to do a touch-and-go. On our final for the approach; another aircraft called in (SR20) and requested clearance for take-off. He was told to hold short of the runway and he did. Our aircraft (C172) had been cleared for takeoff; by tower; from a touch-and-go and proceeded to depart the runway to stay in the pattern and come in for a final landing. As we were climbing; the SR20 departed the runway approximately 10 seconds after we had started our initial climb. We turn crosswind and then downwind and maintained pattern altitude. We had just finished the turn into downwind when we see to our left the SR20 wing high and banking for his crosswind to downwind turn all while at the same altitude as our aircraft. He was no more than 150 feet away from our aircraft. My instructor immediately notified the tower we were departing the pattern and took preventative action by first taking over control of the aircraft and then making a right 360 degree turn; as directed by the tower official. I stayed clear of all controls and let him maintain contact with the tower while manning the aircraft. There was no sign of awareness of our aircraft indicated by the SR20. The pilot did not make his presence known on the radio frequency. Our aircraft is red and the sky was clear so we were visible in today's conditions. It appears he was not paying attention and decided on his own to make his crosswind to downwind turn far too soon. We re-entered the pattern behind the other aircraft (per ATC instruction) and proceeded to follow additional tower instructions in regards to landing for a full stop and sequence instructions.
A student and I had flown inbound to ZZZ from the east to begin conducting pattern work. We were instructed to make a left base entry to Runway XX and were then cleared for the option on Runway XX; with an additional instruction to make left traffic after each option.When we were on approximately a quarter mile final; a Cirrus; called the tower to request a departure clearance. The tower controller instructed the Cirrus to hold short for landing traffic -- my airplane. The Cirrus pilot read back the instruction and held short of the runway.My student and I executed a touch-and-go landing on Runway XX and proceeded to climb on the upwind leg. Tower cleared the Cirrus for takeoff and instructed the pilot to make left traffic as well. While we were on upwind; I observed the Cirrus behind us and was aware of his position.We turned left to join the crosswind leg for Runway XX. By this time we were already at pattern altitude. In a few seconds; we began the left turn to downwind. We were approximately halfway through this turn when I looked to the left and observed a Cirrus ahead and to my left; in a wing-high left bank; also joining the downwind leg at our same altitude. The Cirrus could not have been more than 150 feet away from us.I took the controls from my student and immediately executed a right turn to the east and advised the tower that I was doing so as a result of being cut off on the downwind leg. Upon completion of a right 360 degree turn to rejoin the downwind as we were subsequently instructed; I had a chance to mentally assess the situation and realize how close we were to the Cirrus.The tower cleared us to land; number 2 following the Cirrus we had just evaded. I made a full stop landing and taxied to the ramp without further incident. Once we were on the ground; I contacted the tower via phone to report an NMAC.I have been flying at this airport for several years and have been cut off in the pattern from time to time. That said; I have never experienced anything this close here; nor in 7 years of flying general aviation aircraft.The Cirrus pilot lacked situational awareness and basic airmanship. The pilot was at the runway hold short line; presumably monitoring the tower frequency; when we were cleared for the option and were instructed to make left traffic thereafter. When the pilot called the tower ready for departure; the pilot was instructed to hold short for landing traffic -- my airplane. The Cirrus pilot was cleared for takeoff as soon as my aircraft's wheels left the ground approximately 3/4ths of the way down runway. My aircraft was red with white stripes -- not exactly difficult to see during today's clear sky conditions. The pilot should have applied common sense; a C-172 will climb slower than a Cirrus SR20. Furthermore; this pilot should have been able to observe my aircraft turning from upwind to crosswind; or should have queried the tower as to my position had he lost sight of my airplane; regardless of whether or not he knew we would be remaining in the pattern. I doubt the pilot had us in sight at all after we climbed beyond the departure end of the runway.
Two aircraft; occupied by student pilots and instructors; experienced a near-mid-air-collision when the faster trailing aircraft pilots did not observe the slower leading aircraft; and turned crosswind towards them.