Citation Excel (C560XL)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 400
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
We were taking 8 passengers into ZZZ on a 14 CFR Part 91 flight conducted on an IFR Flight Plan. The AWOS-3 listed for the only approach into this airport is at ZZZ1. The winds favored landing on Runway 2 so we asked for and executed the RNAV Runway 20 circle to land on Runway 2. The VFR Sectional indicates the pattern for Runway 2 is a right pattern.The ceiling and visibility was approximately 4;000 feet and greater than 5 miles so we saw the airport in plenty of time to cancel our IFR flight plan with Center; squawk 1200 and continue under VFR in the pattern. We entered the right pattern at 1;700 feet MSL (1;500 feet AGL) as specified for that airport on the VFR Sectional. We made normal calls beginning approximately 10-15 miles north of the airport and continued with normal calls to final. We saw no one on our TCAS; we heard no one calling on the CTAF for the airport; Center had not seen any traffic; and; we did not observe any movement on the airport surface. As an aside; the Ag Operations have a hangar just adjacent to the approach end of Runway 20.On short final at approximately 150-200 feet AGL; with the aircraft fully configured for a short field landing and at Vref; I was monitoring airspeed; etc.; for the pilot flying when out of my peripheral vision I saw a large smoke trail. I immediately saw it was what appeared to be an Air Tractor turbo-prop painted mostly yellow taking off Runway 20 with 5 knots of tailwind at mid-field well into his takeoff roll.I immediately and loudly announced to the pilot flying; 'Go-around! Break right! Break right!' As I called this I nudged the yoke to the right.The pilot flying immediately and without question began a balked landing/go-around to the northeast and to the right as we approached the runway. We cleaned the aircraft up; re-entered the pattern (once we caught our breath); and landed uneventfully.In 35 years of flying that is probably about as close as I have come to a true runway incursion/near mid-air collision! Our aircraft is equipped as required by regulation with EGPWS; TCAS II; and so on and they are absolutely useless when the regulatory environment for Ag operators operating under FAR 137 are so loose in my opinion. This event nearly KILLED nine people (8 on the Citation and 1 in the Air Tractor); and destroyed two aircraft; not to mention the huge toll on families; etc. And why? Because some agricultural operators are too cheap to buy a simple handheld VHF radio to put in their aircraft and use!!According to 14 CFR 137.45(d); 'At an airport without a functioning control tower; the pilot in command may deviate from the traffic pattern if- (d) The aircraft at all times remains clear of; and gives way to; aircraft conforming to the traffic pattern for the airport.'I am baffled as to how they can legitimately comply with this when they don't have a simple VHF radio to monitor for traffic and make appropriate calls as stated in the AIM; etc. Moreover; they conducted a takeoff downwind when the windsock clearly indicated winds were favoring runway 2. According to FAR 91.113(g) aircraft on final approach have the right of way and we were conforming to the traffic pattern for that airport.Quite simply; my assessment is this operator and pilot are clearly violating 14 CFR part 91.13(a) ' Careless or reckless operation' by taking off downwind; and operating in a manner that does not allow them to safely operate in proximity to other persons and aircraft in the traffic pattern and area. If you cannot afford a simple $150 VHF handheld radio for your aircraft so they can comply with FAR 137.45(d); then at least have a ground spotter with a VHF to monitor local traffic and relay that information to the Ag pilots.I spoke with individuals on the ground who said; 'this isn't the first time this has happened and it won't be the last'. It appears these concerns have been voiced in and around that airport and community to no avail. Our companyis not going back to this airport as it is an accident waiting to happen. It is an UNSAFE airport with UNSAFE operations being conducted and operators other than Part 137; should NOT go anywhere near this hazardous and dangerous area.I also will be talking with the FAA in that area to ascertain who is monitoring the Part 137 certificates at this airport in an effort to try and mitigate the risks at this location while allowing the Part 137 operators to conduct their legitimate business.I suspect that Air Tractor was loaded and when he or she finally saw us on short final; activated smoke for better recognition? Had he or she not done that we likely would have not spotted the smaller profile of the aircraft pointed at us in sufficient time to take evasive actions.
A CE560 Captain landing at ZZZ experiences a conflict with an Air Tractor taking off in the opposite direction. The flying First Officer breaks right and goes around and the Air Tractor continues its takeoff. The Air Tractor pilot apparently had no radio and was taking off downwind.