According to the pilot, he was landing at the airport in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in the evening and the sun was low on the horizon.
While he was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he heard another pilot state that they were departing from the runway.
As he turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the sun was in his eyes, and he could not see very well.
After the Piper PA-28-180 touched down on the runway, he noticed the departing airplane right in front of him and he veered hard to the right to avoid a collision.
The airplane departed the right side of the runway and hit runway lights, resulting in substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing.
Probable Cause: The pilot failure to ensure the runway was clear before landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with runway lights.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This August 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I am going to weigh in on this regarding flying defensively. I own a float plane. When we arrive at a lake and determine where we are going to land, we circle the spot several times because the light reflects off the lake differently from all sides, that is, on upwind, crosswind, downwind, and on final. We look for debris in the water, which may not be visible from downwind but visible on upwind. We look for boaters, jet skiers, etc. We make absolutely certain the area is clear and safe to land.
It strikes me the pilot on downwind could easily, or should have easily, seen the airplane on the ground since the sun would have been to his back. If he had circled the field again to make absolutely sure where the airplane was on the ground then he could have determined if it were safe to continue. The big question, which is not confirmed in the story, is did the plane on the ground clearly communicate which end of the runway he was departing from. Since the landing aircraft did what he could to avoid the departing aircraft he should have known the aircraft was setting up to depart the opposite direction, and exercised extreme caution.
I was landing at an uncontrolled airport that had a published mandatory frequency. I made all the required calls without receiving any replies. I crossed mid- field to inspect the runway and look for other aircraft. On short final I meet another aircraft head on, we both turned opposite to avoid each other and I continued to land.
We caught up with each other on the ground and discussed what had just happened. I wanted to know why he had taken off without making a call. It was a runway close to the Canadian border. His answer was that “No one here uses the mandatory frequency, as then we would hear calls from a nearby Canadian airport.”
At many fly-in breakfast I have had similar issues with everyone trying to get in first or stop the shortest when there are10 airplanes behind you, and I have had issues at major controlled airports when controllers try to mix incompatible aircraft causing go rounds and/or 360 turns in zero zero conditions.
I believe all pilots need to always be aware of the aircraft around them and anticipate evasive action if needed. In the case described, death was a real possibility for all. ROW really doesn’t matter when all are dead! Both pilots have ownership in the incident.
Landing Aircraft has the Right of Way. At a towered airport the departing aircraft would have been told to hold short for landing aircraft. At a non-towered or uncontrolled airport, the landing aircraft should have made contact with departing aircraft.
Sun setting in the east gets you every time.
ROW’s are cool conversation for a courtroom but, in the heat of runway battle – someone has to do something. I’ve been flying for over 30 years now and I had something similar (albeit not as bad) happen to me on only one occasion. In general I believe most pilots are trying to be safe by communicating with each other in and around these non-towered airports. I’ll try to shorten up my story:
In the pattern, making my calls with intention to land full stop.
On base leg – Someone announces they’re departing from the same runway.
I figure if he departs as announced, there will be no conflict.
Turning base to final I see that he’s now parked on the runway. I continue to announce my position.
I initiate S-turns to delay my arrival.
Short final I decide he’s not going to depart so, I arrest my descent and throttle up for a go around. Make my announcement.
He then starts rolling for takeoff. Trees on my right, taxiway on my left.
I’m now afraid that he’s going to climb right up into my path.
I decided to chop the throttle and slipped it in behind him.
Collision avoided – was able to stop before I ran outta runway. Excitement over.
Lesson learned for me: If on base or closer and someone announces they’re departing the same runway – don’t delay the go around.
I’m not a pilot but enjoy aviation. I have worked in hospital/patient safety so I have some idea about safety issues. My question, if you cannot clearly see the runway or potential hazards because of the sun (is it similar to very low ceiling where you see the runway only very close to the ground and I’ve seen in flight videos pilots doing go arounds) should the pilot do a go around to be sure the runway is clear, particulary as the departing pilot communicated his intent to depart?
Clearly that would be the much wiser choice. Abort the landing and initiate go around thereby avoiding the potential for catastrophic end.
Well, let me see. Did this event take place at an uncontrolled municipal airport, or did it take place at uncle Conrad‘s dog and pony show? Both pilots had radios; nevertheless, communication was never established.
The landing pilot doesn’t say he inquired about the departing planes intentions after hearing the transmission. He failed to locate the other the other aircraft while on downwind which would tell him the direction of departure. He turned final into the sun and couldn’t see the runway without any further clarification of where the other aircraft was. As to right of way, he’s flying the pattern while the other aircraft is apparently on the runway, not going to interpret FAR but I’m sure an aircraft already on the runway has ROW. All in all the landing pilot did a poor job and created the hazard. At least that’s my opinion.
Runway pilot makes radio call that he is departing; uhh, when? When someone makes a call like that, it would be reasonable to believe him.
It is not said in the report what landing aircraft was doing in regard to radio calls, but he heard the other aircraft’s departure announcement. Did landing pilot announce downwind, then report base, then final? How many minutes would have transpired from departure announcement to landing craft’s descent to touchdown?
What idiot announces departure, sits on the runway – then ignores a landing aircraft’s pattern calls for landing? There’s a lot of missing information here. Could the landing aircraft even see the runway?
This scenario just leaves me confused.
Yes quite a delay for the departing aircraft. Maybe after turning onto the runway the position of the sun caused him to reconsider his departure. The arriving pilot had seen the departing aircraft on the runway while he was on downwind. After that he said as he turned on final he couldn’t see very well. Seems that would have been a good time to ask the departing pilot his position.
It has been 50+ years since PPL “book learnin'”, I seem to recall that a landing aircraft has the right of way over an aircraft taking off. I think I shall blow the dust off of my “Dick and Jane take Flying Lessons” book.
In my opinion, this was a rubber stamp from NTSB. Look at the regs. Landing aircraft have right of way over a plane departing. Ergo, the departing plane encroached on right of way of the landing aircraft.
That the Pilot didn’t have the tail number of the pilot that “ran the stop sign”, he is the one at fault. But then the FAA in 191.113(G) states, landing aircraft have right of way. Me thinks this NTSB person needs remedial training.
Simple, read the A/C. Explains it all. Of course the other pilot has to follow the recommendations found in this A/C.
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1041885
So what’s he supposed to do? Make a radio call to turn off the sun? Seriously I want to hear from other pilots what they would do. I’ve had this experience driving through Texas on an westbound Interstate undergoing rebuild with a forest of red cones and closures. All I could do was stop and wait for the sun to disappear below the horizon. Lots of horns behind me, of course, from folks who knew exactly where they were going home from work. I always give out-of-state plates a break when they seem to be hesitant on the road. So… what do you experienced pilots recommend when the sun is dead ahead? Inquiring minds (at least mine) want to know.
thanks/Regards/J
It probably was a calm evening since the departing and arriving planes were opposite. That would tend to tell me the arriving aircraft could have opted to land the other direction to avoid the sun glare. I disagree with others that the landing aircraft has the right of way over departing traffic in this situation. If the landing aircraft was on final then yes but not when you are in the downwind.
FAR 91.113g states: “Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface.” Note it says on FINAL or WHILE LANDING.
The proper thing in this situation would have been for the pilots to TALK! Both have radios and were too involved in themselves to think to key the mic and ask their position. If I am in the downwind, I would see the other aircraft getting ready to line up, if not then I speak up. Clearly, the landing pilot didn’t even look to see if anyone was even there before the callout.
Our airport KMQJ is very good about communication but apparently they all are not so safety conscious.
Most airports have a CALM Wind runway published. At dusk lights and strives should be used.
Simply making as radio announcement isn’t enough. Pilots can talk to each other
Right of way rules at airports or highway intersections often don’t work.