Had he not seen me, I’m reasonably sure we would have collided

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.

I was ready to depart ZZZ, an uncontrolled field, and heard a Skyhawk make a position report and he said his destination was Fillmore.

I did not hear the position so I asked the position and had no answer. I asked at least three more times and no answer.

I carefully taxied my Bonanza 35 onto the runway and did not see anybody as I announced my takeoff roll and no answer. I called the Skyhawk at least four to five more times as I was climbing.

The visibility was extremely bad due to the fires. Since my nose was up, I had nearly no forward view.

All of a sudden I caught a glimpse of the Skyhawk banking away from me. I never saw him until he was off my left wing at the same altitude. I called him again and no answer.

The Skyhawk was white with blue trim, the worst colors in bad visibility. My airplane has bright red trim on all surfaces.

I listened as I heard the Skyhawk announce at ZZZ on downwind, base leg, then another voice came on to announce final. I believe it was a student and instructor and I believe that the instructor had the volume on his radio turned down, probably to talk to the student and forgot it.

Had he not seen me, I’m reasonably sure we would have collided.

Primary Problem: Human Factors

ACN: 1838869