What happened
On a day with favorable visual flight conditions, two aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision over a private, unlisted runway near Saint-François-de-Laval, Quebec. The pilot of a Cessna 180 was performing a landing circuit at the aerodrome, which is also known as Contant runway. Simultaneously, the pilot of a Cessna 150, carrying one passenger, was positioned at the end of the runway performing engine checks before departure.
The pilot of the Cessna 180 was unfamiliar with the specific customs of this uncontrolled aerodrome. During the landing sequence, the pilot believed the Cessna 150 was parked and proceeded with a final approach on runway 19. At the same time, the Cessna 150 began its takeoff roll. The two aircraft, traveling on the same track, collided approximately 100 feet above the ground, 1,500 feet from the end of the runway. Following the impact, both aircraft lost control and crashed into a nearby plowed field. The collision resulted in one fatality and two serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the two pilots were not communicating on a common radio frequency. The pilot of the C-XXXX (Cessna 180) was using 126.7 MHz, while the pilot of the C-XXXX (Cessna 150) was monitoring the Mascouche tower frequency, 118.6 MHz. Because the Mascouche controller was unaware that the two locations were the same, no traffic information was provided to the departing pilot.
Investigators found that the pilot of the Cessna 150 was performing engine checks on the active runway, which limited his ability to scan for approaching traffic. Furthermore, the pilot of the Cessna 180 did not follow local aerodrome customs, which typically involve landing in the opposite direction to avoid overhead transmission lines. During the collision, the fuselage of the Cessna 180 obscured the view of the Cessna 150, and vice versa, preventing any effective avoidance maneuvers.
Findings
- Neither pilot saw the other aircraft in time to avoid a collision.
- The pilots were not monitoring a common radio frequency, leaving them unaware of each other's intentions.
- The pilot of the Cessna 150 was unable to effectively monitor the approach due to performing engine checks on the runway.
- The pilot of the Cessna 180 did not ensure the departing aircraft was aware of the landing intention.
- Neither aircraft was using the frequency recommended by Transport Canada for unlisted aerodromes.