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.
A small high-wing aircraft heard me announce I was on a 45 to a left downwind for Runway 30 at Spanish Fork Municipal Airport/Woodhouse Field (KSPK) in Utah. He immediately said “are you kidding me? I am here and lower and have the right of way and you need to wave off right now.”
I immediately waved off and announced it on CTAF. I was in no big hurry and love to fly.
After moving out of the way I advised him that he needs to review right of way rules. I was closer to the airport, larger by far, and moving at least 90 knots faster. It was dangerous to wave off for me as I was even in my required landing configuration.
However, it would have been even more dangerous to argue and have one or both of us distracted. There were other planes in the pattern and on the runway. They needed time on frequency to announce positions.
Arguing with him would have been the worst thing to do. So to avoid a more complicated and technically correct outcome, I decided to enjoy more time in the air flying.
His instructor or someone called him by name and said “call me when you are on the ground.” The offender then immediately said “I am on the ground.” The instructor said “on the phone you idiot.”
So it was obvious that his instructor was not pleased with him. He even argued with his instructor on frequency.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2083200
On my first solo, a jet called 7 miles out on a straight in approach to the runway for which I was already on the downwind. I didn’t really care, so I called on CTAF that I was extending the downwind for the jet.
After the jet landed, he saw a guy outside the FBO door, and commented to him that it was nice of that pilot to extend for us. That was my CFI, and he told him that guy was his student on his first solo. The jet pilot was impressed and said so, and the CFI told me after I had completed my landings.
It didn’t cost but a few minutes and a tic on the Hobbs, and the compliment made me feel better than I already did from the successful solo. I was always taught to fly the friendly skies, but I wonder why some guys want to make it tough.
Starting the transmission with “are you kidding me” paints the picture of the pilot
perfectly. Hopefully his instructor, ahem, “corrected” his student on the correct way to handle a situation like that.
The diminution of basic societal grace and
decency since Covid continues to amaze and sadden me. Hopefully the pendulum swings the other way soon.
I’m not sure how anyone can accurately assess this scenario: There are too many gaps and gaffs to build a true picture of what really happened.
Given, the initial “are you kidding me” radio response by the subject pilot, is so ridiculous it’s comical, and clearly shows a lack of professionalism, along with a lack of understanding of what the actual right-of-way (ROW) rules are. I’m glad he got chastised.
OTOH, as noted already, some of the comments by the reporting pilot also indicate disturbing misconceptions about ROW rules as well: Size, weight, speed, configuration, et al, have no bearing on ROW in the traffic pattern. Just like aircraft flying under IFR vs. VFR, or executing an instrument approach/straight-in vs. flying a rectangular pattern…don’t necessarily have the ROW.
Of course, The Key piece that’s missing in this ASRS report, is exactly where the subject aircraft was in the first place, and what the relative positions of the two aircraft were to each other…
What about the reported “other planes” in the pattern?
It’s pretty much impossible for an aircraft that’s “on a 45 to a left downwind”, to be an ROW conflict with anyone. Unless it’s about to cut off someone else already established on downwind.
How and where the reporting pilot “waved off” (I’m guessing that means he/she executed a “go-around”), without ever actually seeing(?) the other plane, may have worked this time, but not might have been the smartest thing to do.
I wish more pilots would take actions like the original poster, versus creating a tight situation in the landing pattern, even if one has the right or way. There’s no reason to rush a landing unless there’s an emergency situation. Breaking off and re-entering the pattern provides a few minutes more flying time, that we all pay for very dearly, to have the honor to experience. And, that 152 may have a student pilot on their first or second solo that’s nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, or that Citation that you squeeze in front of off may be tight on fuel and can’t safely go-around. To me, this is just being courteous, and makes us all safer.
These situations remind me one of those old Burma Shave road-signs;
“He was right as rain as he sped along”
“But he’s just as dead”
“As if he would have been wrong”
Me first! Entitlement……2 parties….Wow!
I guess I fail to see why you would even file the report. You broke off your approach, as you should have, enjoyed the scenery for an extra minute, then got back in sequence and landed. Why file a report?
I am glad he filed the report. His report illuminates one of societies larger problems. I have no clue as to the age of the big mouth you decided to challenge your right to exist…..BUT….I am guessing he was..hmmmm, dare I say it……”youngish”. We are living in the age of the righteous punk. Not being burdened with many pressures in their upbringing (nice car provided by Daddy, good education provided by Daddy, …..etc), these idiots have no sense of any “big picture”. Yes, entitled is a good word, but PUNK has fewer syllables.
And for those who suggest “he might be right…” and quote the FAR’s….that is hardly the point, now is it? A professional human would have had a different manner of announcing a possible conflict at an uncontrolled field. At least this flying turd did not say, “are you kidding me DUDE….(or bro)…….”.
Some of these reports have been filed to possibly preempt the FAA from taking some kind of action against a pilot that filed the report. Some are filed to get the NTSB to look at problems within the airspace “system” that need better rules or rules need to be better explained.
That’s my story and I’m s-s-s-sticking to it.
Refreshing to hear a bad actor called-out as an idiot. There’s too much PC in this world and not enough direct communication.
Regards/J
You don’t say where the other aircraft was located, but it seems he may have been right. FAR 91.113 states “ When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft.” It says nothing about the faster aircraft having right of way.
I made all my radio calls and was on Final when I saw a slower/smaller C120/140 lower than me turning base. I called to see if he saw me with no response. Even though he was lower than me he should not have cut in front of me for I had the right of way. May be did not have a radio and did not see me? I continued but pass to the left of runway heading heading and watched him land. I went around the pattern and landed. As I taxied by him parked we both waved at each other. Do what ever is the safest thing to do.
Nothing else needs be said!
Not everyone is meant to fly, or boat, or drive, maybe walk?