Ok, here is the story. We didn't write ATC up because every pilot at SQL insists that ATC will save our asses more times than they'll lead us astray, so as payback we should be forgiving on mistakes that were likely just a stressed controler making a verbal mistake. I thought this was pretty dangerous, but my CFI insisted somewhere down the line, a controller may save my certificate when I screw up.
We had just flown the "Bay Tour" North from KSQL through the SFO class B airspace. We were now outside of the Class B, but it was around 5pm on a beautiful day, so we decided to switch over to NORCAL Approach after a few fly-bys past the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, and we requested flight following so they'd keep an eye on us on their radar. We turned East towards the former Alameda Naval Air Station at about 3,000 feet and headed towards Concord/Buchanan Field(KCCR). When we called NORCAL over downtown San Francisco in our 172, N3504P, we were told "Caution 40 Papa and 35 Papa on frequency". My CFI chuckled and I read back the squak and added, "we'll keep our ears open". Over Alemeda, ATC made a call to another Cessna. Casual at first. But they became somewhat frantic. They went something like this:
ATC: "Skyhawk 40P, traffic at your 9 o'clock, 2 miles, same altitude, report him in sight."
40P: "Uhh...we don't have him."
ATC: "40P that traffic is now about a mile and a half to your left same altitude, Cessna 172, report him in sight."
40P: "We don't see him, ma'm!"
35P: "Is that call for Skyhawk 35P?"
ATC: "40P, he's less than one mile same altitude, 9 O'clock, TRAFFIC ALERT!"
So I'm actively listening while trying not to scare my mom in the back, and something doesn't sound right to me, so I check my 9 and low and behold, a Cessna 172 headed right at us, SAME altitude, flashing his landing light as if he's hoping it'd catch our attention. I'm thinking "Turn or something before you T-bone us, idiot!". I hit my CFI on the shoulder and I jam the throttle. I point up with my thumb, suggesting we climb without alerting my mom. He shakes his head and gives a thumbs up, suggesting that the boost of speed would get us past him. The other 172 slowed down it seemed, I saw him drop a notch of flaps and poke the nose up a tad, then he passed anywhere between 55-80 feet behind us...still pretty much same altitude, give or take a foot or two. I will NEVER in my whole life forget turning around as they went by, and seeing 2 pilots in sunglasses staring right into my eyes as they passed by, with a look in disbelief on their faces. It seemed like they went by in slow motion. I have somewhat of a frozen-frame picture in my head.
My CFI keyed the mic the second they went by. "Hey lady, 04P just had a 172 wizz by 20 feet off our tail, thanks for the heads up. We'll go it alone from here."
ATC replied, almost 10 seconds later, in a voice like she was in a total daze "Roger 04P....Sqauk VFR frequency change approved...have a safe one."
And that was that. She's only human, and I might make a dangerous mistake one day down the line, and hopefully karma will swing my way and ATC will cut me a break. Who knows.
We had just flown the "Bay Tour" North from KSQL through the SFO class B airspace. We were now outside of the Class B, but it was around 5pm on a beautiful day, so we decided to switch over to NORCAL Approach after a few fly-bys past the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, and we requested flight following so they'd keep an eye on us on their radar. We turned East towards the former Alameda Naval Air Station at about 3,000 feet and headed towards Concord/Buchanan Field(KCCR). When we called NORCAL over downtown San Francisco in our 172, N3504P, we were told "Caution 40 Papa and 35 Papa on frequency". My CFI chuckled and I read back the squak and added, "we'll keep our ears open". Over Alemeda, ATC made a call to another Cessna. Casual at first. But they became somewhat frantic. They went something like this:
ATC: "Skyhawk 40P, traffic at your 9 o'clock, 2 miles, same altitude, report him in sight."
40P: "Uhh...we don't have him."
ATC: "40P that traffic is now about a mile and a half to your left same altitude, Cessna 172, report him in sight."
40P: "We don't see him, ma'm!"
35P: "Is that call for Skyhawk 35P?"
ATC: "40P, he's less than one mile same altitude, 9 O'clock, TRAFFIC ALERT!"
So I'm actively listening while trying not to scare my mom in the back, and something doesn't sound right to me, so I check my 9 and low and behold, a Cessna 172 headed right at us, SAME altitude, flashing his landing light as if he's hoping it'd catch our attention. I'm thinking "Turn or something before you T-bone us, idiot!". I hit my CFI on the shoulder and I jam the throttle. I point up with my thumb, suggesting we climb without alerting my mom. He shakes his head and gives a thumbs up, suggesting that the boost of speed would get us past him. The other 172 slowed down it seemed, I saw him drop a notch of flaps and poke the nose up a tad, then he passed anywhere between 55-80 feet behind us...still pretty much same altitude, give or take a foot or two. I will NEVER in my whole life forget turning around as they went by, and seeing 2 pilots in sunglasses staring right into my eyes as they passed by, with a look in disbelief on their faces. It seemed like they went by in slow motion. I have somewhat of a frozen-frame picture in my head.
My CFI keyed the mic the second they went by. "Hey lady, 04P just had a 172 wizz by 20 feet off our tail, thanks for the heads up. We'll go it alone from here."
ATC replied, almost 10 seconds later, in a voice like she was in a total daze "Roger 04P....Sqauk VFR frequency change approved...have a safe one."
And that was that. She's only human, and I might make a dangerous mistake one day down the line, and hopefully karma will swing my way and ATC will cut me a break. Who knows.
Comment