Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 60; Flight Crew Type 60
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
I was doing pattern work at ZZZ between XA:00 and XB:00. The airfield had a large amount of arriving traffic during the hours I was flying. After a touch & go on RWY XX; I was asked to extend the upwind before flying a right pattern. About mid-field on the downwind; tower requested a left-360. After my first 360; I was instructed to extend my downwind. A second plane [Aircraft Y] was approaching the airport from the northwest. Aircraft Y was asked to 'make a right 270; keep it tight and get ready to line up behind a [jet]'ATC then asked me to widen out my downwind and look for Aircraft Y making the right 270. At this point it was at my 11 o clock; 3 miles. About 5 seconds later I was able to identify the aircraft; let tower know that I had them in sight and was preparing to line up behind them. About 15 seconds later; tower called me up again; asking 'Aircraft X - extend it out a little bit; actually just follow behind and I'll call your base you will have to follow a jet behind on final'. I read back and confirmed.About 30 seconds later; tower called me up again; 'Aircraft X just so I don't get you too far from the field; make a left 360'. I read back the instruction and began my left 360. At this point; I was already thinking about Aircraft Y as I was planning on how I would get back on the downwind and line up behind them. I believe Aircraft Y was just about to finish its right 270 as I was about 90 degrees into my 360. I was able to spot and track the plane on Foreflight with Sentry; but since I had to make a 360 I lost visual when I initiated my turn. Tower; likely receiving a traffic alert called the other plane to make them aware of me: 'Aircraft X about a mile south making a left 360 - he has you in sight'. I do not think he asked them to confirm that they had me in sight and I can't tell from the live-ATC recording whether they read it back. The added statement 'he has you in sight' was extremely dangerous and could have been fatal. Yes; I had the traffic in sight when I was heading toward it and planning to get behind them; but once I started my left 360 there was no way of maintaining a visual with the other plane since I was now heading the opposite direction. I immediately recognized the potential conflict and started looking both outside the plane and on Foreflight trying to spot and track the other plane's relative position. The other plane did not make a 270 turn; but instead kept turning toward the airport/runway i.e. cutting into my path.As I was about 270 degrees into my 360 turn tower called 'Aircraft X - as you are coming out of that 360 turn do you still have Aircraft Y in sight?'At this point; I was already banking hard left in a steep turn trying to pull away from the converging traffic that I saw coming closer toward me. Turning right was not an option as it would have put me in the middle of final with jets arriving. I do not think the other plane confirmed whether or not they had me in sight. If they did; they flew way too close to me for my comfort and should have initiated an avoidance maneuver. In response to tower's question I responded 'Aircraft X unable' because I had to focus on flying the airplane away from the other traffic. We then passed by each other with much less separation than I feel comfortable. The other plane heading toward the runway; and me pulling hard left to the North-West; initiating a climb up to gain altitude. It is hard to tell exactly but horizontal distance could have been less than 500 feet Vertical distance was virtually the same. It happened very quickly. If I had not realized the potential conflict and mitigated by tracking on foreflight and pulling hard left this could have been a really really bad situation. The biggest mistake here; in my opinion; was ATC communicating to the other plane that I had them in sight AFTER I started my 360. There is no way one can maintain visual during such a maneuver while also flying safely and ATC shouldunder no circumstances make that statement. I also think that having two planes completing maneuvers in a way where their exit paths can conflict (right 270 and left 360) in close proximity should be prohibited.There were multiple safer options here. Aircraft Y could have flown a proper base rather than cutting it short onto final. I could have been asked to fly west; or I could have been asked to fly another 360 right after the first one. The fact that ATC changed its instructions relative to how I should fly behind/around the other traffic 3 times in a minute indicates to me that they were not planning ahead but rather responding to/running behind.In the future; I will call out if ATC tells other people that I have them in sight when I don't (i.e. after starting my left 360). I am also surprised nobody (tower/the other plane) complained about how close this was. I am glad to be back on the ground.  I hope this helps keep other people safe in the future!
GA pilot reported experiencing a NMAC that resulted from ATC sequencing 3 aircraft for landing by using 270- and 360-turns.