Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 1615; Flight Crew Type 178
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
I had been directed to fly a straight-in approach to Runway XXR by Tower. When I was about 3-4 miles from the threshold; I was cleared to land Runway XXR. There was no one announced to be in the pattern ahead of me. I recall the tower telling someone they would be number 2; following a Skylane on a 3 mile final (me). I had just put full flaps and my speed was stabilized for the final approach at about 2 miles out when I glanced up and to the right and saw a high wing Cessna just above me and slightly ahead of me also on final. I kept him in sight and edged out to the left of final and called to ask the Tower why there was someone just above me. The Tower at first couldn't sort out who was calling; and I think I called again with my call sign and asked if I should divert to XXL. The Tower instructed the other aircraft to go around; cleared me again for XXR and told me the other aircraft was supposed to have followed me. I watched to make sure the other aircraft was climbing and then turned back to final to XXR and completed the landing without incident. The tower apologized for the conflict as I turned off onto the taxiway.I'm not sure if the other Cessna was following me and overtook me; or if it had been downwind for XXR and turned base too soon. At any rate; the tower clearly lost track of one of us; or was confused about who was in front. I don't recall seeing the other aircraft on my traffic display; but to be honest; I was concentrating on the final approach at that point.
On downwind in right traffic for Runway XXR we were told we were; 'number two following a Cessna on a two mile final; clear to land XXR.' We extended downwind while looking for the traffic on final. I finally saw a Cessna abeam us and low. Once the traffic was past us we turned right base to follow this traffic. Once on final we heard radio communication between the tower and a plane which was below us on final. We were directed to go around; which we did. I later called the Tower and found that the since they were using two tower frequencies; our tower frequency was controlling traffic on Runway XXR and the other frequency was controlling traffic on Runway XXL. At this point I can only presume the Cessna we saw on final was lined up with XXL; but I didn't know it because I couldn't hear any radio transmissions between them and the south tower frequency. However; the person I spoke with had not yet listened to the radio communication tapes so couldn't give me a definitive answer as to what had happened. I assume this was my fault because I didn't know that two separate radio frequencies each handled separate runways at an airport with two closely spaced parallel runways. I understand the need for two tower frequencies at an airport which has a north field and a south field; but it never occurred to me that there would be two separate controlling authorities for such closely spaced parallel runways. The only reason I knew a second tower frequency was in use is because I heard it on the ATIS upon approach. The second tower frequency is not listed in my current chart supplement. The ATIS said; 'if departing from Runway XXL or if approaching the airport from southeast to southwest; please contact the tower on the south tower frequency.' It seems that this second frequency is in use only part time. I didn't expect that that there would be a unique frequency for each runway.
A Cessna 182 Pilot and a Cessna 152 Pilot reported a near miss on final approach due to ATC miscommunication.