Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 250
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I had requested an extended downwind for instruction and was told to expect that. I was told to turn base within a mile; I turned base; and began teaching my student. During this process; I missed a transmission from ATC telling me to turn base or extend the downwind; which is confusing because we began our base turn. We then saw traffic and maintained visual separation. I then acknowledged ATC and began with the new sequencing. Then we began to hear a stuck mic that blocked communications intermittently for the remainder of our final approach. ATC assumed this stuck microphone was us and that we were having communications issues. I believe this occurrence could have been avoided with better radio communications. My mistake was talking too fast and ineffective situational awareness to the controller's expectations. The controller could have helped by being more clear with initial transmissions.Ultimately; the stuck microphone was a large factor in this occurrence. Being unable to clarify with ATC made situational awareness difficult.We were able to maintain VFR requirements safely the entire flight.
A flight instructor reported a near-mid-air-collision in the CRQ airport traffic pattern due to communication issues with ATC.