Today was one of those days you wait for in flying. The skys were crystal clear (visibility was a good 30 miles) and there was not a bump in the air. I HAD to take my Cessna C140A for a cruise. After about an hour of enjoying the scenery, the sun was starting to get low so it was time to head back to the airport (17J). I announced that I was going to over-fly the runway from the west to the east at pattern alititude and that I would be entering left downwind for 18. All was progressing well in the smooth air and I announced turning final for runway 18. I was concentrating on the runway ahead and the greaser wheel landing I was about to make. I was down to about 300 feet AGL when I glanced out the left side window. I cannot describe the stark terror I felt as I saw a Kolb ultra-lite zip by 50 feet underneath me! I was heading 180 and he was heading 270, intersecting at a right angle. My gut reaction was full power and pull hard to get out of the way but honestly it was too late. The collision would have already happened before I even knew he was there if it were not for that skinny little 50 feet of altitude. I was really concerned that he might have went down short of the airport so I circled back around to have a look. I could not see him so I continued to orbit, gathering my wits, and scanning for him. I finally saw him about 1/4 mile north of the field making a low circuit for the grass on the right side of runway 18. This area is not consided to be a normal landing zone but it explains how he got where he was at when I was on short final for 18. With him in sight I made an uneventful approach to 18 although my nerves were shot. When confronted, the ultra-lite pilot said he did not see me. He even questioned me about whether I had my strobe light on or not.
I can honestly say I have felt this kind of terror very few times in the 51 years of my life. There was no panic, just fear. I went home and hugged the wife. I'm glad to be here.
Reflecting on today's event two things come to mind. The pattern flown by the ultra-lite was non-standard in that he was only a couple of hundred feet AGL and was cutting across the normal approach path to runway 18 at this altitude. Secondly and probably most important, he did not have a radio. Even though I flew the correct pattern and made all of the right calls, if no one is listening it does not matter.
So what's my greatest fear? You guessed it, a mid-air collision.
Jerry Isler
Cessna C140A N9641A
RV-4 N455J
I can honestly say I have felt this kind of terror very few times in the 51 years of my life. There was no panic, just fear. I went home and hugged the wife. I'm glad to be here.
Reflecting on today's event two things come to mind. The pattern flown by the ultra-lite was non-standard in that he was only a couple of hundred feet AGL and was cutting across the normal approach path to runway 18 at this altitude. Secondly and probably most important, he did not have a radio. Even though I flew the correct pattern and made all of the right calls, if no one is listening it does not matter.
So what's my greatest fear? You guessed it, a mid-air collision.
Jerry Isler
Cessna C140A N9641A
RV-4 N455J