Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 527; Flight Crew Type 281
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
When I fly to SBA; I usually fly over the GVO VOR and I am vectored by the tower to follow highway 101 for a right base for 15R and sometimes 15L. Runway 15 is used for GA aircraft in landing. SBA is a busy airport and more often (50%) of the time I am told before my right base turn to turn 30 degrees left toward the mountain range for spacing and most of the time make a 360 degree turn for spacing. I have been told to make a 360 turn and then redirected to Runway 25. These spacing vectors are normal for SBA and are safe to make. About a half dozen times on final to 15R or 15L; I have been told to immediately abort my landing and turn left to avoid incoming or take off traffic; in which the spacing was not working. This has happened prior to crossing Runway 15's threshold. I have been told to turn immediately after crossing highway 101 and on very short final over Hollister Ave right; as well as between Hollister Ave and the Runway 15 threshold; which is very close to the Tower on the right and hangars on the left. Aircraft X tends to be nose heavy and when told to make immediate turns at low elevation on very short final takes some work. When flying low; slow; gears out and even with full power it takes some time to climb; especially while turning hard. I have known that these immediate turns before the Runway 15 threshold is because planes taking off Runway 7 are normally airborne way before they cross Runway 15. Three quarters of the length of Runway 7 is before crossing over Runway 15. To fly a go around on very short final straight down on Runway 15 would cross in the path of the climbing aircraft taking off Runway 7. In the past year I have been witness to a close call of a midair collision with a plane landing in Runway 15L and a plane that took off on Runway 7. I had just landed on Runway 15R and taxied to B. I was heading to [FBO] and Ground told me to taxi via B and hold short of Runway 25. I saw a plane on very short final for Runway 15L and saw the plane taking off and airborne on Runway 7. As I watched in horror; I could see the plane landed on Runway 15L trying to climb and do a go around down Runway 15L. Both planes were a second or two of colliding. I thought if they collide; I was just beneath them holding short of Runway 25 on B and the plane debris would fall right on top of me. It was a horrifying moment. The planes missed each other by feet thank God! The Tower was silent for some 5 to 10 minutes and I was still in a hold pattern on B holding short of Runway 25. I then heard a pilot asking to proceed on the Ground a few times over and over; finally the Tower responded back and told him to be patient because they have a 'situation here' in the Tower. I knew what that situation was; that near midair collision over Runway 15 and 7. I finally got clearance to cross Runway 25 and continue to taxi B to [FBO]. I have spoken to many local pilots since then and they also brought up the same concerns that I have and said that it was safer to make a hard turn on short final; rather than fly ahead and go around because of the likely hood of a midair collision occurring; so this is why the Tower most often requests an immediate turn before the Runway threshold on Runway 15; rather than a go around straight down Runway 15. All of my aborts I have been told by the Tower to go around by turning left immediately. The intersection of Runway 15 and 7 is also a Hot Spot.This brings me to my flight on [DATE] from ZZZ to SBA. I had flight following as I normal do. Once I crossed the mountain over GOV; I was transferred to SBA Tower. Tower told me to follow highway 101 for a right base to Runway 15R. As I got closer; I lowered my landing gear; extended the flaps and preformed my GUMPS checklist; the Tower cleared me to land on Runway 15R. Just before I was about to make the right base turn; the Tower told me to make 20 degrees left turn for separation of aircraft. I made the turn and my terrain was closing in and climbing towards me from the ground and ahead. I added more power just in case I needed to abort the instructed turn and climb while turning right with Tower communication to avoid terrain if needed. I did not have to abort because the Tower then cleared me to make a sharp right base turn and land on Runway 15R. As I passed over highway 101 and right before Hollister Ave; the Tower instructed me to immediately go around with a right closed traffic and abort my landing because of an aircraft taking off or landing on Runway 7. I remember hearing a plane landing on Runway 7 but that was prior to my right base turn as I was following highway 101; so I assumed it was a plane taking off as well. I immediately increased power and made a right turn at or before Hollister Ave and stayed right of Hollister Ave; so that I was parallel to Runway 25/7 and had the Runway in sight to my far left visually to look for any traffic coming in. Tower then told me to keep left of highway 101 to avoid traffic and fly same/said heading until told to turn around and head back to the airport. I climbed to pattern altitude and once there the Tower instructed me to head back and make a right base and cleared to land on Runway 15R. I did and landed and taxied to B and contacted Ground. Ground asked if I am okay; there was a cross wind and I was veering a bit left on the Runway after landing. I told them I was fine and they asked where I was parking and I told them [FBO]. I was told to taxi via B and hold short of Runway 25. I was then cleared to cross Runway 25 and taxi via B and C to [FBO] behind a Aircraft Y already on C. Once I got to C; I contacted [FBO] on their frequency to let them know I was coming in and directions where to park. After contacting them I switched back to ground frequency. I parked and shut down the plane. After dropping off passengers; I started the plane and contacted clearance for flight following back the ZZZ. I got my clearance and heading directions; altitude holds and frequency change to SBA Approach after takeoff on Runway 25. I then contacted Ground and they told me to taxi via J and hold short of Runway 25. I confirmed and I told them that I will do my runup to the left side; hold short of Runway 25. I was about to start my runup and the Ground Controller told me that when I was flying in on short final to SBA and told to abort my landing; I should have made my right turn once I was over the Runway 15R threshold; not earlier. The Controller also said that when I was on taxiway C right before [FBO]; they tried to reach me and I did not answer and they said I was off the taxi line. I was stunned and all I could say is that I am sorry and I apologize. Then the conversation ended. They did not ask me to contact them for further discussion. I looked back at my landing and the action that I took was to avoid traffic on Runway 7; as I did and was told in the past. I made the turn; but did not wait to cross over the Runway 15R threshold before turning because it was unsafe with Runway 7 traffic and my altitude would have been unsafe with a potential midair collision; as I witnessed firsthand before; as I explained earlier. I was a bit off the taxi line on C because I was avoiding the jet wash from Aircraft Y and there was no other vehicles or planes around. I will be more careful in the future to re-clarify with Tower when I am asked to abort/go around landings on final. I will also take into consideration my safety and others; as I do as Pilot in Command. Next time when I fly to SBA I will ask the Tower to take some time (via phone call) with me after I land; so that I can discuss these issues with them at length and have a better understanding; so that this is avoided in the future.
General Aviation pilot reported they performed a go-around using the standard; expected procedure at the airport and were told by ATC that they made the initial turn too early. Pilot also reported witnessing a near mid-air collision at this airport between an aircraft on short final and an aircraft conducting a go-around on an intersecting runway.