Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65; Flight Crew Total 2600; Flight Crew Type 35
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
While providing dual instruction towards a tailwheel endorsement; instructor intervention and dynamic maneuvering was required to prevent a mid-air from occurring. Winds were 060 at 3-5 knots; and we had been established in right closed traffic for LAL Runway 5; alternating between stop and go; and touch and go landings. Tower specifically cleared us for a 'touch and go' on the incident pattern because a light twin had called 'ready for departure at Runway 09'. He was told to hold short for traffic on Runway 05 (us). As soon as we cleared the Runway 05/09 intersection the light twin was cleared for takeoff. He replied immediately with to his clearance being issued; and I saw him start to roll forward onto Runway 09. Normal pattern operations at LAL are to turn crosswind at the departure end of the runway being used. I directed my student to extend his upwind to the road (Drane Field/road) just off the airport property; ~1/4nm further than we had been doing to give the light twin a chance to depart without being crowded; and to discuss the areas for improvement in the last landing. As we turned crosswind; I resumed actively looking for the light twin as I expected him to be at least abeam us based on the immediacy of his radio reply and the manner in which he took the Runway. When he wasn't where I expected him to be; I looked a little further down the departure leg. When I failed to find him there; I retraced the Runway 09 centerline from where he took the Runway and found his shadow approaching the departure end of Runway 09. At this time; we were in the turn from crosswind (which converges on Runway 09) to downwind; I found the light twin visually ~500 FT away; ~100 FT below us; climbing into our altitude. The light twin pilot was heads down and didn't react as I took the aircraft from my student and did a climbing hard right turn to avoid the light twin. I am an experienced fighter instructor pilot; and have extensive formation flying experience. When I visually picked up the light twin; there was zero line of sight between the two aircraft. Had I not taken the evasive maneuver; I have no doubt I would not be writing this; our right main landing gear would have gone through the light twin's windshield and his left prop would have chopped us up really bad. After taking a breath to sound calm on the radio; I informed Tower that we just had a close pass with the light twin departing Runway 09. He sounded surprised; and asked if I wanted to continue in the pattern. To dial back the chain of events; Tower had us in a right pattern to better mix us into the flow of faster aircraft that he was keeping in the left pattern; as my aircraft is slower than most other GA aircraft. However; when the light twin requested takeoff; there were no other planes in the left pattern; and I should have requested to transition to a left pattern; instead of continuing in the established pattern. I had recognized the potential conflict and directed my student to extend his pattern; but we could have gone left and negated the possible conflict. Second; when I directed my student to extend; I could have focused more on keeping track of the light twin; instead of critiquing my students' performance; and been able to delay the turn to crosswind that had us converge toward the light twin. I don't remember Tower advising the light twin of our position; and in any event; the light twin had zero reaction to our maneuver; and continued outbound without responding to my call about a close pass. Even in a Tower controlled pattern; it is still the PIC's responsibility to see and avoid. All the better to use superior situational awareness to avoid the conflict altogether; than to continue into a potential conflict that could have been catastrophic.
An instructor in the LAL Runway 5 closed traffic pattern took evasive action during a near miss with a light twin which departed Runway 9.