A Pilot landing at a non towered airport reported the preceding aircraft reported they were a touch and go but stopped on the runway. The reporter landed also and was able to stop short of the preceding aircraft.

Date: 2022-12 · Aircraft: Pilatus Undifferentiated · Phase: landing

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

A Pilot landing at a non towered airport reported the preceding aircraft reported they were a touch and go but stopped on the runway. The reporter landed also and was able to stop short of the preceding aircraft.

Narrative

Very busy traffic pattern this day with about 5 planes in the pattern. I was following Aircraft Y in the traffic pattern. I entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg of Runway XX behind Aircraft Y that had just taken off from doing touch and go's and was going to remain in the pattern. All aircraft were making good radio calls and could understand what they were saying except Aircraft Y in front of me. The pilot was a foreign student by his accent. He made a call on base and final which stated 'touch and go' is what I understood. I made my 'turning final Runway XX' call and a 3 mile final call as Aircraft Y was touching down on the runway about 2000 ft. down Runway XX. The Aircraft Y stopped on the runway about 3500 ft. down Runway XX just before XX Taxiway. I believe I was on a 1.5 mile final at this point. I was under the impression they were doing a touch and go and would me rolling. When I was in ground effect and flaring at the numbers another voice came on the radio and said this is a 'stop and go.' I continued to land as there was 3500 ft. between my aircraft and Aircraft Y. I did think about doing a go around but thought it would be more dangerous at that point if I went around with Aircraft Y taking off 1/2 way down Runway XX. Instructor didn't say 'stop and go' until after stopped on the runway. I thought they were rolling and rotating. After I exited the runway at the first taxiway about 1500 ft. behind where Aircraft Y was sitting on the runway the examiner started yelling over the radio. I taxied to the FBO and got out of the plane. The Aircraft Y exited the runway and taxied to the ramp. Parked on the ramp sideways and the examiner got out of Aircraft Y and left it running with the student inside. People were walking around the ramp at this point as well. The examiner was extremely rude and raising his voice and throwing his arms up and down causing a scene; taking pictures and threatening me that he would be talking to the FAA and 'pulling the tapes.' I was very calm and apologetic explaining I had plenty of room to stop and I tried explaining my situation that I thought he was a touch and go he would not listen to anything I had to say; and just kept on yelling; interrupting anything I would try to say. I was on a 3 mile final as they were touching down. Even if it was a stop and go; that should have given ample time for them to stop and go again before I landed. I'm not sure why they sat on the runway for what seemed minutes in this much traffic. The examiner should pay closer attention to the traffic around the airport and not delay when he knows there are several aircraft in the pattern. A very unprofessional examiner. When he came out yelling I was not expecting that; and I was a bit concerned and confused as to why he was so mad. If he knew I was there on final; why did they sit on the runway for that long? If I knew they were going to be a 'stop and go' I would have flown a bigger pattern to allow for more time. I felt I gave them ample room and time for what I thought was going to be a 'touch and go' as well as plenty of room and time for a 'stop and go.' As I was trying to talk to the examiner he would not listen to anything I had to say; kept interrupting and turned and walked away yelling the entire time. Could have totally been handled a different way without rage and anger from the examiner. It surprises me that an FAA examiner can't hold it together and be more professional. I would never want to fly with this individual and would hope I never share airspace with him again at any airport. The best part about the aviation industry are the people. I have never in my 8000 hours of flight time and over 25 years have I been treated like this from anyone in the industry. In my opinion if a pilot acts out in this manner over something that was not dangerous; I would question their ability to be somewhat calm in a real emergency. It seemed to me that this examiner was making a dangerous situation by being stopped on the runway for such a long time. And seemed to me he might have been instigating a problem.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.