Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 1100; Flight Crew Type 35
Communication Breakdown; Other / Unknown
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was operating a skydive jump aircraft and had entered the pattern for landing on Runway 30. We enter the pattern at a high rate of descent and enter on a high right 45 degree entry for right traffic for Runway 30. I had announced my position on a high right 45 degree entry and then on entering downwind at 2000 feet AGL and descending. There was no one else announcing themselves on CTAF and I did not see any other traffic in the pattern. As I was descending through 1500 feet AGL on downwind a Piper Cherokee suddenly passed just in front and to the right of me in level flight. I did not have time to maneuver and passed behind and below the Cherokee as I continued on downwind in the pattern. I attempted to make contact with the Cherokee on CTAF but did not get any response. I landed without incident. I believe the cause of this incident was the Cherokee flying through the traffic pattern of the airport without reporting its position or responding to my reports. I believe the traffic may not have been monitoring the CTAF despite being within 2 NM of the airport and at pattern altitude. Also contributing was the hazy conditions and the sun's position low in the sky; making it difficult to see any traffic.
King air pilot descending in the traffic pattern experiences a NMAC with a PA28 at 1500 feet overflying the airport. The King air pilot was descending at a high rate and making position reports while the PA28 pilot was apparently not on the the CTAF. Visual contact occurred too late to evade.