This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
We were doing chandelles in the north practice area at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Ryan Field (KBTR) in Louisiana. We finished with our chandelle maneuvers and we were doing eights on pylons next.
While looking for pylons we had an airplane that ATC told us to avoid. We started doing normal maneuvers (turns, climbs, descents) to get out of his way.
Despite my efforts to get out of his way, after a while we figured this aircraft was trying to follow us. This aircraft started following very closely, getting to a point where it was unsafe and I felt like he was trying to hit us. It came to a point where if he had a tail number I could read it. It looked like a small aircraft with no tail number.
ATC told me to continue inbound for a left downwind for Runway4L. We entered the Charlie airspace.
After we reached the smaller circle of the Charlie airspace he dipped off and made a 180 to the north.
I was too flustered to continue training so we ended training and landed safely at KBTR.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 1932236
After being told to avoid him you started making maneuvers in front of him to get out of his way?…interesting. I usually find just one to be sufficient. I notice you don’t mention ATC contacting the other aircraft about his actions.
From your narrative, if anything, I suspect he was trying to get your N number.
China?
I’ve had this happen a number of times where you would swear the other airplane was trying to match your moves and create a conflict – always difficult to know whether it is coincidence or deliberate. Best to just get of their way if possible. Good move to land.
small airplane?
could it have been a drone or RC craft?
Either way, good decision heading back in.
Hopefully ATC was able to track the intruder to its destination.
This is unacceptable behaviour. Stay clear, and safer flying comes near!