Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 280; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
We were instructed by the Tower Controller to follow traffic ahead of us for Runway 2.  The traffic we were following was on short final and we were still approximately 2.5 NM out.  After giving us our instructions; they issued instructions to another C172 (Aircraft Y) pilot to locate us on final; and proceed to follow us for the option Runway 2.  I was not aware at the time that the aircraft instructed to follow us was an initial student pilot solo. Tower asked if he had us in sight; he responded affirmative; and was instructed to follow us.  While establishing ourselves for landing; at approximately 450 FT something caught my eye directly above our left wing.  I immediately recognized that it was an aircraft and proceeded to take the flight controls and make an immediate descending right turn. While in the descending turn; Tower issued a warning to us saying that the traffic following us was rapidly approaching.  The student pilot in the other aircraft did not seem to see our aircraft or understand the following ATC transmissions we had with Tower.  We were instructed to make a right 270 degree turn and re-establish ourselves on final for Runway 2.  We did; and continued our flight uneventfully.  I am fairly certain if the student pilot was 10 FT lower our wings would have struck.  Out Traffic collision avoidance system did not sound until we were in the descending right turn.  Also; the student pilot did not seem to be phased at all by the events.
C172 instructor pilot experiences a NMAC on short final with a student pilot on his first solo flight. Evasive action is taken. Neither the Tower nor the onboard collision avoidance system alerted the reporter in a timely manner.