ArlingtonRV
Well Known Member
SO, I had a near mid-air with a twin Cessna yesterday on landing at my home airport (KAWO). As I was on very short final, about 30 feet in the air just over the numbers I transferred my gaze from the touchdown point to the far end of the runway and had my canopy filled with twin Cessna. Fortunately he was above me and climbing, but it got my attention. Good thing I didn't have to go around.
Arlington (WA) is a non-towered airport with two runways. 16/34 is the primary runway with 11/29 as an auxiliary. The wind yesterday was all over the place. 34 was active when I left, but an hour later when I returned 16 was a (slightly) better choice. I was listening to the frequency for about 15 minutes before I approached and a few airplanes had been using 16 there was then silence for a while.
The wind was constantly moving from about 200 through 250 and from 3 to about 10 knots. As previous people had been using 16 and it was a slightly better choice I set up for an approach to 16.
I called 8 miles out over a prominent land mark (Lake Goodwin). I called on the 45 over another prominent point (Twin Lakes Park). I called downwind, base, and final. There was a Skyhawk entering the pattern behind me and a Bonanza behind him, all making calls for 16.
I made all the appropriate calls and there were two other airplanes stating intentions for 16 so obviously the Cessna wasn't listening. I was and he never made a call before pulling onto the runway. Once on the runway with my wits about me again I keyed the mike and said simply "Thanks Buddy!". He responded that he didn't see me and then that he was turning crosswind, kinda in the direction of the Skyhawk on base. This proved that his radio worked and it was tuned to the correct frequency.
After much time bemoaning many aspects of the background of the Twin Cessna pilot I began to look objectively at what I could have done better.
As I was on the 45 I noticed an airplane in the run up area adjacent to 34. Of course, I had no idea what his intentions were. For all I knew he could have been planning to depart 29. I had that information filed in the back of my head, but didn't make enough use of it. I figured since I hadn't heard him say anything I was safe. BIG MISTAKE.
What I should have done, knowing he was there, was to watch him like a hawk. As I turned downwind to base I should have checked to see where he was. As I turned base to final I should have cheked again. If I had been more diligent, even though he said nothing, I should have seen him pull nto the runway and gone around, sidestepping off of the runway. This would have prevented the issue and I could have even warned the folks behind me.
I broke my own number one rule: "Always assume that the other guy will do something stupid." If you do you will never be surprised and rarely be disappointed. I had grown complacent because most people at least say something on the radio, even if they don't listen. Never rely on the radio alone always look, everywhere.
Arlington (WA) is a non-towered airport with two runways. 16/34 is the primary runway with 11/29 as an auxiliary. The wind yesterday was all over the place. 34 was active when I left, but an hour later when I returned 16 was a (slightly) better choice. I was listening to the frequency for about 15 minutes before I approached and a few airplanes had been using 16 there was then silence for a while.
The wind was constantly moving from about 200 through 250 and from 3 to about 10 knots. As previous people had been using 16 and it was a slightly better choice I set up for an approach to 16.
I called 8 miles out over a prominent land mark (Lake Goodwin). I called on the 45 over another prominent point (Twin Lakes Park). I called downwind, base, and final. There was a Skyhawk entering the pattern behind me and a Bonanza behind him, all making calls for 16.
I made all the appropriate calls and there were two other airplanes stating intentions for 16 so obviously the Cessna wasn't listening. I was and he never made a call before pulling onto the runway. Once on the runway with my wits about me again I keyed the mike and said simply "Thanks Buddy!". He responded that he didn't see me and then that he was turning crosswind, kinda in the direction of the Skyhawk on base. This proved that his radio worked and it was tuned to the correct frequency.
After much time bemoaning many aspects of the background of the Twin Cessna pilot I began to look objectively at what I could have done better.
As I was on the 45 I noticed an airplane in the run up area adjacent to 34. Of course, I had no idea what his intentions were. For all I knew he could have been planning to depart 29. I had that information filed in the back of my head, but didn't make enough use of it. I figured since I hadn't heard him say anything I was safe. BIG MISTAKE.
What I should have done, knowing he was there, was to watch him like a hawk. As I turned downwind to base I should have checked to see where he was. As I turned base to final I should have cheked again. If I had been more diligent, even though he said nothing, I should have seen him pull nto the runway and gone around, sidestepping off of the runway. This would have prevented the issue and I could have even warned the folks behind me.
I broke my own number one rule: "Always assume that the other guy will do something stupid." If you do you will never be surprised and rarely be disappointed. I had grown complacent because most people at least say something on the radio, even if they don't listen. Never rely on the radio alone always look, everywhere.