Flight instructor on training flight with student reported near miss with another aircraft taking off on the opposite runway at a non-towered airport.
Synopsis
Flight instructor on training flight with student reported near miss with another aircraft taking off on the opposite runway at a non-towered airport.
Narrative
My student; a fellow flight instructor; and I were flying instrument approaches and doing single engine work in a Grumman Cougar; GA-7 at ZZZ. We landed at ZZZ on Runway XX and taxied back to Runway XX. There was a light crosswind coming from the southwest that slightly favored Runway XX and several other aircraft had taken off or landed on Runway XX. As we turned towards the hold short line; we noticed the Raytheon-400A (Aircraft Y) taxiing to the opposite runway; Runway XY; but hadn't heard any radio calls on UNICOM. We checked the traffic pattern and the runway before announcing our intentions on UNICOM to take Runway XX for takeoff. My student pulled out onto the runway and lined up on centerline; I noticed the Raytheon-400A (Aircraft Y) pull up to the hold short line for Runway XY. As my student started to add power for takeoff; I commented to my student that the Raytheon-400A was pulling onto the runway while we were on the runway starting our takeoff and asking what he was doing. My student immediately pulled back on the throttles and announced on UNICOM that we were aborting takeoff due to traffic on the opposite runway. As we were taxiing to exit the runway at Taxiway 1; my student asked if the Raytheon-400A (Aircraft Y) was getting closer to us and we saw they were accelerating down the runway towards us; again without making any radio calls. We started to add more power to accelerate towards the taxiway or the grass between the runway and the taxiway when they rotated and flew over-top of us at about 75-100'. After the Raytheon-400A overflew us; we taxied off the runway and back towards the runup block for Runway XX. We took off of Runway XX about 5 minutes later; without incident. As we were climbing out the Raytheon-400A finally made their first radio call on the ZZZ UNICOM asking the lady who monitors the UNICOM to apologize to the airplane in the pattern (us); that they had the wrong radio frequency tuned in by 1 digit and that's why we didn't hear their calls. She relayed the message to us and both the initial apology and the retransmission were heard by another instructor from our flight school who was entering the pattern at ZZZ. Several factors played into this runway incursion and near miss on the runway at ZZZ. The Raytheon-400A tuned in the incorrect frequency. Aircraft need to ensure that they have the correct frequency dialed into their radios; especially at a crowded non-towered field like ZZZ. I understand that mistakes happen and but that is why being aware of what is going on around the airport environment and traffic pattern is so important. Whether they have a radio in their aircraft or not; the Raytheon-400A (Aircraft Y) needed to look to ensure the runway was clear before taxiing onto the runway and before starting their takeoff roll. The runway incursion and near miss could have been mitigated if not entirely avoided if proper non-towered operations had been followed by the Raytheon-400A; the use of proper frequencies; clearing the runway and traffic pattern environment; and using the runway that was currently in use by other aircraft. Our aircraft; the GA-7 was making radio calls on the proper frequency and cleared the runway before taxiing past the hold short line. The fact that my student and I noticed that the Raytheon-400A had entered the runway at the opposite end; started its takeoff roll and therefore took evasive action; prevented a possible collision on the runway or just after takeoff. What can be done to prevent something like this from happening is that everyone; jets and IFR traffic included need to follow the FAR/AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) for non-towered operations. Everyone needs to ensure they're on the correct frequency; if they have radios; and look before taxiing onto the runway and before starting their takeoff roll. If an aircraft is going to use a different runway; they need to make it very clear on the radio and watch other traffic in and around the airport very closely. Jets and IFR do not automatically have precedence over general aviation traffic. It is important for all aircraft to remember that whether they are IFR or VFR they still have a responsibility to watch for traffic on and around the airport at a non-towered field.
Second reporter narrative
I was a student in this situation learning on the GA-7; Gruman Cougar for my multi engine rating. we were shooting instrument approaches and landed at ZZZ without any problems. We taxied off Runway XX and then taxied back to Runway XX via [Taxiway] 2 making all radio calls. We pulled up to the RWY XX hold short line. I ran through the before takeoff checklist then checked for traffic in and around the area and did not see any. I made a radio call 'ZZZ traffic; Aircraft X departing Runway XX to the east; ZZZ.' As I pulled onto RWY XX I was still scanning for traffic as it was an untowered airfield. We lined up on RWY XX held brakes then added power while still stationary to check engine instruments. 'Engine instruments green; release brakes.' As I looked down the runway my instructor said 'Are they pulling onto the runway.' I confirmed by pulling back the throttles and coming to a stop; followed by a radio 'ZZZ traffic Aircraft X aborting takeoff RWY XX.' The other Jet had just pulled on the opposite Runway XY. There was a short pause; I looked at my instructor and said what are they doing. She replied I don't know. I said 'I'm going to taxi to [Taxiway] '1' and get off the runway; I don't know if they know we are here. I started an expedited taxi to '1' then as we were rolling down the runway it seemed as if the aircraft was getting closer to us. 'Are they getting closer...are they taking off.' As this happened I closed the throttles; taxing off to the right-hand side of RWY XX; and said 'ZZZ traffic Aircraft X on Runway XX; taxiing to 1.' At that time our right wheel was on the grass and we came to a stop because the Jet had just gotten off the ground and was over us. We then quickly got ourselves back onto the runway then taxied off the runway with a follow-up call saying that we were clear of Runway XX.There were no radio calls by the other jet taking off. No taxi call; no departure calls no call once so ever. As we sat on the ground to do a runup check to make sure our airplane was still good; the Jet got back onto the frequency and said 'ZZZ Traffic; this is Aircraft Y; we want to apologize for the aircraft we took off over. We did not see you on the runway until we pulled up. Our radio frequency was 1 digit off.'
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.