M-20 K (231) / Encore
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 1000; Flight Crew Type 500
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
On a visual approach with multiple fire tankers taking off and landing in opposite directions. I was monitoring the frequency and announcing position; but failed to switch transmitters on the audio panel. Passed close by a tanker. We both saw each other and he radioed a Mooney was entering the pattern without talking. I realized the problem and switched radios.The solution is to be more diligent in confirming I've switched radios.
The pilot of a Mooney M20 misconfigured the aircraft's audio panel and was not transmitting location information while entering a CTAF traffic pattern being utilized by firefighting aircraft.