Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 1700; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
I filed an instrument flight plan from 7B2. I picked up my clearance on the ground at 7B2 (Northampton Airport) and was asked which runway I would be using (runway 14); I was told to hold for release. When I was released; I was instructed to turn right to a specified southwesterly heading. There were two problem with this instruction (neither of which occurred to me until after the flight): 1. Traffic pattern at 7B2 for runway 14 is LEFT traffic. Perhaps Bradley clearance could see there were no other aircraft in the vicinity and therefore were comfortable giving me a heading that would be in conflict with the traffic pattern at the airport. Had I not been given that heading; my plan was to fly three left turns (essentially fly to pattern) and then turn on course.2. Much more importantly; the assigned heading took me dangerously close to terrain. Happily; I had half tanks of fuel and only one passenger; and it was a cool evening; so my climb rate was in excess of 1;500 fpm. However; even with that climb rate; I came dangerously close to unlit terrain in the direction I was instructed to fly. While not specifically instructed when to begin the turn; I waited until I climbed above pattern altitude; perhaps an earlier turn or an even more steep climb (or a slower airspeed) would have kept me further from the terrain; but I was not given any instructions other than to turn right to that heading. In the future; I would suggest that Clearance Delivery take into account the traffic pattern at the airport (assuming this wasn't done) and more importantly make the departing pilot aware of terrain and give more specific instructions to avoid the terrain. I note that this will differ for different aircraft (speed and climb rate). Perhaps the safest alternative would be to instruct pilots to fly a turn in the traffic pattern prior to flying to an assigned heading and contacting the departure controller.
PC12 pilot reports receiving an IFR departure clearance from 7B2 departing Runway 14 to turn right after takeoff on a southwesterly heading. The reporter questions the turn direction as being opposite to the VFR pattern and notes that he came dangerously close to terrain before starting his turn above traffic pattern altitude.