Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 505; Flight Crew Type 250
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I was flying a C-182 with two others on an Orientation Ride. We announced our intentions to depart Runway 5 to the northeast on CTAF. We took the runway and; as we accelerated to rotation speed; spotted a Piper Saratoga coming at us head-on; approximately 1;000 FT in front; and closing. We aborted our takeoff; moved from centerline to the right side of the runway; braked and stopped prior to the Saratoga passing. Saratoga also saw us; and we had plenty of room to pass each other on the runway; both airplanes stopped or slowed significantly. I called him on CTAF and; after a few seconds; he answered and asked us if we heard his transmission before his takeoff. We did not. We inquired about CTAF and he stated he called on the Unicom frequency; that the CTAF frequency was being utilized by Anderson Radio; and that the Unicom should be used. He told us to check the facilities directory to find the correct frequency to use (referring to Unicom). We subsequently departed and monitored 123.6; and he then switched over to 123.6. A contributing factor was that Anderson Radio was talking on 122.0 or 122.2 to other aircraft in the air; but was also broadcasting on 123.6. This took quite a bit of time out of the CTAF frequency and I believe this confused the Saratoga pilot; causing him to utilize the Unicom frequency to broadcast his takeoff intentions. We both saw each other prior to rotation and a near miss/collision was avoided. My two passengers were concerned; but not fearful; as we avoided an incident.
A C-182 and a Piper Saratoga; departing AND on the same uncontrolled runway but in opposite directions rejected their takeoffs to avoid a collision. They later determined one was transmitting intentions on the published CTAF frequency and the other on the published Unicom frequency.