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.
Announced position 10 miles south ZZZ, planning midfield cross to left downwind for Runway XX. Announced crossing midfield to left downwind for XX. Wind 130 @ 3 knots.
Just crossed midfield south to north and left hand turn to downwind, see aircraft approximately 1 mile @ 12 o’clock. Heard no announcement by other aircraft. No aircraft on my ADS-B display or my TCAS. I confirmed I was on correct frequency for CTAF. I held altitude and speed of 110 kias.
Once I visually confirmed it was indeed an aircraft flying towards me/towards the runway from right to left, I was about to evade to a climbing right turn, when I could see it was crossing about 300 feet in front of me and approximately 300 feet below me (from northwest to southeast crossing the downwind and runway to opposite side). I was headed west (heading of 270). I could see his numbers.
I was able to finish my downwind, base, and final and have an uneventful landing. While rolling out I heard the first radio call by the plane now coming back north to cross midfield to left downwind for 10.
I taxied to my hangar, put my plane away. After Aircraft Y landed and taxied to his hangar and was out of his plane, I calmly went to see him. I told him he needed to check his transponder since I had no traffic display for him and also he must have an intermittent radio issue as well.
He stated he heard me call my position in the traffic pattern. He had no idea he flew in front and below me while crossing the field at below pattern altitude.
I left it at that as I realized there was nothing illegal here — he doesn’t have to announce at untowered fields.
Seems like a real dangerous way to fly — crossing midfield below pattern altitude in the wrong direction while someone is in the downwind within 500 feet of your position, only to do a 180 turn and cross back across midfield.
I didn’t get the impression he felt he did anything wrong or unsafe. Seems like an accident waiting to happen with this individual.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 1910745
I haven’t flown since the mid ’80’s, and I am absolutely astounded by some of stories I read on here. After all these years, I feel like I’m a better pilot than a lot of the current pilots. (Of course I always felt that way! Lol!)
Next time try a base to final 10 miles out, much cleaner. Your scenario is common traffic pattern woes.
So you’re actually suggesting a ten mile final instead of flying a standard pattern.
I’ve used that procedure for 45 years without complication. It keeps traffic thrashing about in the pattern in front of you and easier to keep track of.
In land vehicle traffic we call guys like him a ‘hot dog.’ Show-off, inconsiderate vehicle operation with complete disregard for other traffic in the area.