General aviation pilot reported flying formation as a flight of two aircraft and the lead had a near miss with another aircraft when turning on final approach in visual conditions. The non formation pilot was cut off by the lead formation pilot aircraft and performed a go around to provide separation; the formation flight landed safely.
Synopsis
General aviation pilot reported flying formation as a flight of two aircraft and the lead had a near miss with another aircraft when turning on final approach in visual conditions. The non formation pilot was cut off by the lead formation pilot aircraft and performed a go around to provide separation; the formation flight landed safely.
Narrative
I was flying formation with a friend and was initially the lead. As such; I was sqwaking 1203 and his transponder was in standby. Mid-flight to LVK; we had a lead swap but left the transponders as they were. Upon an arrival into LVK; we were given an overhead right break approach and told to follow the aircraft on a two mile final to Runway 25R. On the overhead; a departing aircraft was climbing up toward us and the Tower instructed us to break now. As I followed my lead aircraft on final approach we heard another aircraft state that 'he was going around; Aircraft Y is in our way'. At that time; my passenger and I saw Aircraft Z that was approximately 80 ft above my lead's aircraft on final. Aircraft Z executed a missed approach and both the lead aircraft and myself landed normally. This incident happened while ADSB was logging my transponder due to the lead swap. The Tower was very busy during our arrival and must have missed the fact that we were at our perch making our base/final turn into this other traffic. Or possibly he was depending on my ADSB for position relative to the traffic on final. Then with me being the -2 on the flight; the lead was ahead of my aircraft causing the controller to think our flight was further back from its actual position.
Second reporter narrative
I was leading a 2-ship formation into LVK at approximately XA:50. We were given an initial clearance for right base 25R and told the overhead was unavailable. Passing approximately 1300 feet into our descent; Tower gave us the option for the overhead at 1400 and I accepted. We climbed back to 1400 ft. and commenced the overhead pattern. We were instructed to break at the departure end. There was additional high wing traffic climbing to pattern altitude at the departure end and I had it in sight with safe separation. When I was about midfield in the overhead we were instructed by the Tower to break now because of traffic at the departure end and were cleared to land number 2 behind Aircraft A. Approaching the perch; I saw Aircraft A on short final and began my final turn; with the second plane (in my formation) behind me. As I rolled out onto final; we heard a radio call 'Aircraft Z going around; Aircraft Y is in our way' - or something very similar to that. I looked up and saw the other aircraft and maneuvered slightly right for space. Tower then told me I was number 1 & cleared to land. We landed uneventfully & taxied to parking. There was a lot of traffic and the controller seemed very busy.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.