PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19; Flight Crew Total 292; Flight Crew Type 254
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
During my check ride for CFI Initial; while performing a wind drift circle; we had a Near Mid-Air Collision with a Cessna 172. While performing the wind drift circle at approximately 2;600 FT MSL my DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) and I noticed at the same time; a shadow of an aircraft on the ground approximately 30 degrees off the nose. I looked up and saw the aircraft and stopped the wind drift circle and flew away from it. The aircraft; when I saw it; was around 100-200 feet above and 500 feet horizontal. I called on the radio after leveling off and stated my position and intentions and the pilot in the other aircraft replied 'Yeah; I just flew over you. Didn't you see me? I'm doing ground reference maneuvers over the orchards' (the orchards were where we were). I stated that I was sorry and had just seen him as he flew over and that I fly to another location to do the maneuver that I was setting up for. At no point do I recollect hearing any call from the other aircraft before the NMAC nor after; until I spoke on the radio.
PA-28R pilot reported an NMAC with another light aircraft in the vicinity of FFZ airport.