NMAC OF 2 CESSNA 172'S TURNING BASE TO FINAL FROM OPPOSITE TFC PATTERN SIDES DURING NIGHT TRAINING. BOTH ACFT PLTS OBSERVED THE OTHER AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TURNS FROM EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO AVOID COLLISION.

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MONDAY NIGHT I WAS FLYING INTO CRAIG. I WAS FLYING A C172. INITIALLY I WAS S OF CRG; INSTRUCTED TO FLY A R BASE FOR RWY 5; I WAS #3 FOR LNDG. BY THE TIME I WAS READY TO TURN FINAL #2 ACFT WAS ALSO READY TO TURN FINAL. #2 ACFT WAS ON A L BASE; I WAS ON A R BASE. THE CTLR SAW THAT #2 WAS SLOWER THAN I; SO THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR A R BASE; AND CLRED ME TO LAND ON RWY 14. AS I WAS READY TO TURN FINAL; STILL ON A R BASE FOR RWY 14 I HAD A NEAR MISS WITH AN FBO C172. THE FBO C172 WAS MAKING A L HAND TFC FOR RWY 5. I BELIEVE THE TWR CALLED OUT TFC TO THE FBO IN REGARDS TO ME BEING THE TFC TWICE. I RECEIVED NO TA'S TO MY KNOWLEDGE. BY THE TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER WE WERE WITHIN 30 FT OF EACH OTHER. WE BOTH BROKE L. THE FOLLOWING DAY I CALLED THE CTL TWR AND ASKED THEM TO PULL THE TAPES. THE MGR LISTENED TO THE TAPES AND SAID THE FBO PLT WAS AT FAULT AND SAID SHE WOULD HELP ME IF I WANTED TO FILE A RPT AGAINST THE PLT. I THEN WENT OVER AND TALKED TO THE FBO PLT. HE SEEMED OUT-GOING AND VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE BOTH LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE ANY FURTHER ACTION. I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY LISTENED TO THE TAPES BUT I DO REMEMBER THE NIGHT VERY VIVIDLY. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE BREAK-DOWN IN COM ON THE SYS OCCURRED. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED; EVERY PARTY INVOLVED WAS EQUALLY AT FAULT.