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 doing pattern work with a student and we had just rolled wings level on the downwind leg when we saw an aircraft rapidly approaching us from the crosswind leg.
He had done a touch and go behind us without making any radio calls, so we were not aware he was there and was following us on the upwind leg.
He turned crosswind earlier and lower than he should have, which put him on a collision course from beneath our left wing where we could not see him.
We saw him when he came in view at our 10 o’clock forward of our wing and he was climbing right into us as he began turning downwind. I estimate he was around 100 to 200 feet from us at this point.
We immediately did a right 360 and let him continue on the downwind leg ahead of us.
Solution 1: Make radio calls on every leg at an uncontrolled airport. He was not making radio calls on his upwind and crosswind legs (it is possible we missed the transmissions but do not recall hearing any radio calls).
Solution 2: Aircraft in the pattern need to wait to turn crosswind until 300 feet below traffic pattern altitude (TPA). This could have mitigated this problem by preventing him from turning crosswind so soon and also putting him higher on the crosswind leg giving us a better chance of spotting him in a low wing airplane.
Solution 3: Use ADS-B in for traffic advisories. After speaking with the chief CFI from the school of the conflict aircraft it was determined that this student was on a solo flight and those students rarely use ADS-B in for traffic awareness. I think this is a must, especially when flying on a nice morning at a busy uncontrolled airport.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2053669
The writer’s own actions (see and avoid) are a good example of defensive flying, still the most reliable traffic avoidance system. He did a good job but his recommendations aren’t going anywhere.
I’m not sure encouraging students to use ADSB-In in the traffic pattern is a good idea. I firmly believe it’s a great tool but a student might become to “head down” if he/she gets too dependent on it.
A quick glance right before takeoff, or when approaching the airport area, maybe. But NOT in a busy pattern.
In this story, I would have had a chat with the student’s CFI or school manager. Looks like a review of flying proper patterns AND radio protocol are in order.
I agree. After a quick glance on the 45 ADS-B should not be in the traffic pattern. VFR is eyeballs. We have too many computer gamers in the cockpit already.