Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7; Flight Crew Total 80; Flight Crew Type 80
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was in my PPL [Private Pilots License] check ride doing emergency descent from an engine fire; followed by a simulated emergency engine-out landing. I was near ZZZ and asked to use Runway 32 for a simulated emergency. At the time the favorable wind runway was 14; and it was being occupied by another plane waiting for takeoff. I used the CTAF frequency to declare simulated emergency and declare landing on Runway 32; but my request was denied by the plane on Runway 14 noting that the preferable wind runway is 14 and it is currently in use. I switched to flying over the field at 1300' AGL and went into short final to Runway 14 after the other plane went for the takeoff roll. The DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) decided that was a good course of action and asked me to do a go around. I did the go around behind the plane that was now upwind; but I was too tensed and did not keep situational awareness of that plane; and did not turn to the outside of the pattern during the go around; flying over the runway. I then went ahead to turn cross-wind and lost track of the other plane that was flying upwind; which then turned cross-wind making me to its left in the left-traffic pattern of ZZZ Runway 14. On turning down-wind; the other plane noted that we are calling the same TPA (Traffic Pattern Altitude) and traffic pattern leg and asked me in a panicked voice to exit the pattern. I did not know what to do as it was the first time someone asks me to exit the pattern and being on the check ride I did not know if that would be a good course of action. I noted on the radio that I was looking for the other plane; and the DPE noted its location to my right at 2 o'clock going through to 3 o'clock. I tried to get over the radio but it was being used by another plane on Runway 14 trying to act as an ATC controller to alleviate the situation. The DPE asked me to take action to prevent an incident; but I was too absorbed by trying to contact the other plane via radio. This repeated 3 times; with the DPE asking me to take any action; and at that point I just blanked out. I did not know what to do and fixated on trying to get on the radio. In about 30 seconds the other plane turned left directly into us; and the DPE had to take over to do a steep turn to prevent a mid-air collision. I was rightfully disapproved on my check ride; as I had failed to take any evasive action and slipped out of PIC mentality.In summary; I lost situational awareness and got caught up in the left side of the other plane in left-handed pattern; and as it turned directly into me I failed to take any evasive action to prevent that from happening in the first place. It had the right-of-passage but it seemed to not see me and cut me off. It seems like I was being overloaded with information from the radio; and stress from the check ride and slipped out of having the initiative and proper command of the situation. The other plane on Runway 14 trying to get on the radio got on my nerves; and I was also phased out by the planes refusing to cooperate with the simulated emergency; and by the other plane in traffic pattern asking me to exit the pattern while sounding panicked. I am not trying to blame anyone but myself. I am just pointing out the stress-induced lack of situational awareness causing me to be inside the pattern of another plane in pattern and external factors in causing an overload that stuck me and prevented me from taking action; although clearly going into a mid-air scenario. Also; I did not expect the other plane to turn into me while being right beside it; which made me mentally slip into lack-of-action.
Student pilot reported failing to use proper runway in use and traffic pattern procedure; resulting in NMAC.