Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Tower told us to join right downwind. Entered pattern on a high wide downwind as I was initially intending to go straight into right base. Turned right base; Tower called out traffic 300 feet below and I saw helicopter pass by on my left. Then; Tower said 'I didn't tell you to turn base.' He had us continue; however. We were now head on with a Cessna that was on the left base. Tower told the Cessna to turn off to the north and advised us of traffic 12 o'clock and 300 feet below. I had just initiated my descent to land normally; then I received an RA to climb. I climbed about 200 feet until clear of conflict; and watched traffic go under me about 400 feet below from right to left. Continued approach and landed normally using normal stabilized approach. Customers commented jokingly after landing about the Cessna that caused us to climb. Tower did not comment further about incident. Tower said to join right downwind but did not say he would call the base. Main issue in my opinion was Tower's failure to tell us exactly what he needed from us. Tower will typically say 'Extend/join downwind; I'll call your base.' I took his initial instruction as join right traffic.
BE-400 Captain reported an NMAC while on visual approach due to miscommunication with ATC.