On Feb 8, 5:11 pm, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote:
I don't understand. Are you saying you scanned for traffic, spotted traffic
one mile out on final, and then turned base?

Nope. As I said, he called straight-in final, claiming to be twenty
miles out... or about ten minutes away. Plenty of time for us to
land (I was with a CFI at the time). Less than a minute later we
turned base, but luckily spotted him coming straight in over a hill,
and only a half mile from landing... so we went around. And yes, it
was the same aircraft.

In the pattern, it's easier to see where someone is. Straight in, you
often just have to believe what they say. (That is, trust but
verify ;-)

I've heard others say that, but I've never found find it difficult to spot
traffic on final.

It's hilly enough around here that it can be difficult to spot an
aircraft on straight-in final.

Cheers, Kev