A PLT IN AN SMA TAXIED ONTO THE RWY IN FRONT OF A LIGHT TWIN ENG ACFT CAUSING IT TO GAR. THE RPTR ADMITTED THAT HIS RADIO VOLUME CTL WAS TURNED DOWN AND HE COULD NOT HEAR TFC; ALSO THAT THE VISIBILITY OVER THE NOSE OF HIS TAILWHEEL ACFT WAS POOR.

Date: 1997-09 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer · Phase: approach

Anomalies: conflict-nmac|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

A PLT IN AN SMA TAXIED ONTO THE RWY IN FRONT OF A LIGHT TWIN ENG ACFT CAUSING IT TO GAR. THE RPTR ADMITTED THAT HIS RADIO VOLUME CTL WAS TURNED DOWN AND HE COULD NOT HEAR TFC; ALSO THAT THE VISIBILITY OVER THE NOSE OF HIS TAILWHEEL ACFT WAS POOR.

Narrative

I WAS TAKING OFF IN VMC FROM AL15; RWY 17. I ANNOUNCED MY TAXI; AND I ANNOUNCED MY TAKING THE ACTIVE RWY FOR DEP AFTER MY RUNUP. AS I BEGAN TO MOVE FROM THE HOLD SHORT LINE; I SCANNED THE AREA OF SHORT FINAL AND DOWNWIND/BASE LEGS -- DID NOT SEE ANY OTHER ACFT. (I WAS RUNNING UP FACING E ON THE END OF RWY 17; SO I COULD SEE THE DOWNWIND AND BASE LEGS OF THIS L-HAND PATTERN FOR RWY 17.) AS I PUSHED FULL THROTTLE AND BEGAN THE TKOF ROLL; A TWIN ENG ACFT PASSED OVER MY ACFT; ABOUT 300 FT ABOVE AND SLIGHTLY TO MY R. HIS GEAR WAS UP. I HAD HEARD NO CALLS DURING MY TAXI OR RUNUP. HE CONTINUED PARALLEL TO THE RWY AND BROKE R; AS I DEPARTED L; SO THERE WAS NO FURTHER DANGER OF COLLISION. ONCE I LEVELED OFF; I NOTICED MY RADIO'S VOLUME KNOB WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE TWIN MAY INDEED HAVE HEARD ME AND MADE APPROPRIATE CALLS; BUT WITH MY VOLUME DOWN; I WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD HIM. FROM NOW ON; I LEAVE MY VOLUME KNOBS AT A NORMAL VOLUME; AND TURN THE RADIOS ON AND OFF WITH THE MASTER RADIO SWITCH. ALSO; IT IS WELL WORTH IT; IN A TAILDRAGGER WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY SUCH AS MINE; TO PIVOT AROUND 360 DEGS TO DO A FULL SCAN OF THE AREA PRIOR TO LEAVING THE HOLD SHORT LINE.

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