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.
The problem arose from what I believe was a lack of communication and pilot negligence.
My student and I were doing traffic pattern laps where each leg we called out our position and confirmed with other traffic that was in the pattern or entering the pattern.
During this one lap as we turned left base for Runway XX I noticed an aircraft on final that was at our 2 o’clock and no more than 100 to 200 feet below us.
At that time I took over the controls and executed a climbing left turn back into pattern altitude and said so over the CTAF.
The aircraft inbound on final then radio called “the traffic off our left wing is clear of us” and then continued inbound on final.
This aircraft did not make a radio call prior to this that either my student or I heard. This was his only transmission so far.
After we executed our climbing left turn and were established on final we asked the aircraft if they had ADS-B on board, to which they replied they did not.
The aircraft was not making any calls and could not be located on the Sentry or G1000 avionics onboard because the aircraft did not have ADS-B installed.
The easiest solution to this would have been proper and clear communication, and announcing your position, especially in an area that is not controlled.
Many accidents happen like this so it is important to communicate, especially when you are entering the pattern and critical phases like on a final.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2049330
Many years ago, straight ins were not acceptable as an approach to landing at uncontrolled airports. Enter at a 45 degree to downwind.
With a GPS approach, anything goes. Be dammed with the guy already in the pattern.
I find more airports announcing the calm wind runway on AWOS but that don’t discourage the straight in approach.
Sounds like the student had an excellent lesson. There are mistakes that continue to occur. If you read these reports, this is one of those recurring mistakes. Or maybe just another Dodo bird who will meet it’s fate somewhere else. Welcome to the club.
I’m not one who wants to add more rules. We seem to have plenty plus the best practices from the AIM. We seem to be approaching the time where ADS-B OUT should be expanded to include 100 NM from any airport with Class B or C airspace. If you want to operate your Cub (or whatever) NORDO and with no ADS-B out, then you can still do so far away in a rural setting with little or no traffic.
Still too many people operating without communicating (via Radio or ADS-B electronics). Even when they do they sometimes do unexpected stuff. I was waiting for departure at one of our “Wild West” airports the other day. Lots of traffic, some NORDO, but a lot of planes and a few too many people who “have always done it that way”. I’m do my run up, hear a call on the radio, Experimental xxxx 3 miles north inbound straight in. I’m finishing my run-up as he crosses over the runway numbers at about 500 feet AGL, no additional radio calls, just the one. Oh, so a low pass maybe? As I am calling him on the radio, as I’m now ready to roll, he makes a left turn for an “overhead approach”. I ask him if he is returning to land, yep. Fine, pretend to be a air force guy if you like. Could you communicate just a little more?
In the base leg of the landing pattern before turning on FINAL, it is critically important to glance to the right (L/H pattern) before turning final to check for another aircraft that might be on a straight-in final approach.
During BASE LEG, it is natural to be concentrating on your landing point, but you MUST always be alert to the possibility of someone else landing straight-in.
YES, good communication in the pattern is very important, but EYEBALLS are even more so.
Jerry King
Under the circumstances I believe see and avoid.is the appropriate regulation.
Ag plane or jumper? Those guys are too good to talk to the likes of us.