2023-07 · NASA ASRS report 2019440
PA-44-180 instructor and student pilot reported a conflict with agricultural aircraft taking off in the opposite direction on a training flight at an uncontrolled airport who was not communicating on the frequency. The instructor rejected the takeoff and maneuvered to the side of the runway; as the agriculture aircraft passed overhead; then taxied off the runway with a blown tire.
On Day 0; I was conducting a training flight with my Multi-engine Instructor (MEI) in a PA-44-180 Piper Seminole. After completing some maneuvers away from the airport; we made our way back to the field to complete a simulated emergency descent. Winds were favoring Runway XX and other aircraft in the pattern were actively using Runway XX. While setting up the maneuver; radios calls were made and heard by other aircraft. During the maneuver we were in communication with other aircraft in the area to coordinate our arrivals. After the simulated emergency landing; we taxied back to the departure end of Runway XX. While holding short a C172 also conducting a training flight took off. After they had made it a safe distance in their up-wind leg; we made our radio call that we were departing Runway XX. At this time; I cleared both the runway and final approach environments. At this time no other aircraft were observed in the area. It is my practice to audibly make those clearing calls to my instructor and myself. After visually clearing the runway and not hearing any radio calls I entered the active runway to begin my take off roll. During the take off roll I looked down to check engine instruments. Upon making my instrument checks I looked up and at the same time my MEI said 'Is that an aircraft on the runway' I immediately pulled power to idle; and we both applied full brakes. At this time; we were rolling at about 50-55 kts. IAS. The aircraft in question was an agricultural plane that was rolling down Runway XY towards us. We were able to come to a stop before the other aircraft rotated and began their climb out over the top and to our left. We estimated that the ag aircraft rotated about 500 ft. in front of us. After passing us the ag plane made a radio call asking if we had heard his radio calls. He had alleged he made two radio calls; one as he was taking Runway XY and one after we had made our radio call; neither call was heard. When he made the radio call asking us if we had heard his first two calls the communication was clear; there were no cracks or interference; that might suggest a radio failure and the call volume was loud. After the other aircraft was clear we started to taxi clear of the runway. At this time; I noticed I had a higher amount of power in than I would expect; I mentioned that I think we had a flat tire and my MEI agreed. We were able to taxi the aircraft off the active runway onto Taxiway 1 where we shut down and called for assistance. Upon inspection we found that the left main was popped and at that time I did not notice any more damage to the aircraft. The same instructor that was in the C172 came to assist us; at that time I asked him if he had heard any radio calls coming from the agricultural aircraft and he admitted to me that he did not hear calls from the agricultural aircraft but were able to hear us fine. Both main tires were replaced and no other damage was reported to the aircraft.The agricultural operator on our field has been known to encourage his pilots to do intersection departures at Taxiway 2 while departing Runway XY and land Runway XX regardless of what runways the winds are favoring. We believe he encourages this behavior because it decreases taxi time because of their hangar location on the field. Moving forward I plan to be extremely vigilant of aircraft in our vicinity. For several days I have continued to process the situation and come up with solutions on how I may avoid another incident like this. This event has taught me the importance of being vigilant of physical traffic and monitoring radio traffic. It has also taught me that intersection departures can be dangerous.
Student and I were taking off Runway XX in ZZZ. We had not heard any radio calls from traffic using XY and were unable to see any traffic on XY while we were clearing the runway for departure. We announced our departure on XX and began taxiing on the runway and began our takeoff roll. Shortly after we began our takeoff; I thought I could see something coming down XX and made a radio call asking if someone had begun taking off XY. After the radio call it became clear to me that it was another airplane that I was seeing so I grabbed our throttles and pulled them to idle; announced to my student that there was an airplane departing XY; and we worked together to bring our aircraft to a stop. While bringing the plane to a stop we also maneuvered it to the side of the runway. The departing XY traffic was I believe a thrush crop duster. They rotated and were airborne before reaching our airplane and sidestepped the runway to the right. There was no damage to the aircraft; pilots; or airfield other than us replacing our left and right main tires due to excessive wearing from the max breaking.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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