Incident Overview
A Cessna 150, operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot, was conducting touch-and-go landings at an uncontrolled airport. The aircraft was monitoring and broadcasting intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) of 122.9. The CFI reported that he observed no traffic ahead in the pattern and scanned for traffic throughout the pattern without seeing any aircraft. He stated that he announced the turn to base leg on the CTAF. As the Cessna 150 turned final, the CFI noted that they "clipped" another aircraft. The CFI was at the controls at the time of the collision.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses observed a Cessna 182 flying upwind against the standard traffic pattern at an altitude higher than the pattern altitude. The Cessna 182 then crossed the end of runway 22 and entered a high right downwind leg, followed by a high long final approach for the same runway. Simultaneously, they noticed the Cessna 150 on a left base leg, after which the collision occurred.
Communication and Frequency Change
The collision took place shortly after the CTAF frequency for the airport had been changed from 122.7 to 122.9. Both aircraft were operating on the new frequency.
Traffic Pattern
The standard traffic pattern for runway 22 at this airport is left-hand turns. The Cessna 182 was observed flying a right-hand pattern at a higher altitude than typical traffic pattern altitudes, which deviated from the standard left-hand pattern.