J3 Cub
Flight Crew Sport / Recreational
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 44; Flight Crew Type 38
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I was flying a J3 Cub to ZZZ. I'm a new sport pilot having only gotten my license about two weeks ago. I got caught up with finding the airport; making frequency changes; getting the winds from the automatic weather reporting station; and trying to figure out how I should enter the pattern. I was not scanning outside the aircraft because I was too focused on everything inside the aircraft. I did not see an aircraft; or hear it on CTAF because I was listening to the weather; departing a runway that I was crossing the extended centerline of. I was around 2 miles away. I finally saw the aircraft as it was coming up on my right side. We both turned left and it was fine; but it scared me quite a bit. After that scare; I just turned away from the airport and left while scanning for other aircraft. Things that I think contributed to this near miss are:-I did not plan the cross country because it was short and I figured I could figure it out on the fly by getting frequencies from my sectionals. -I did not make a radio call when I was close to the airport because I had not yet planned out how I would enter the pattern. -I was too focused on planning my pattern entry that I was not aware of my surroundings. -I did not expect traffic at the airport; because I had flown there the day before and had not seen or heard anyone at the airport. Thinking about what I will do differently; I will:1. Plan out every flight I do that is not just around my home airport. Route; frequencies; predicted weather; airport runways; traffic pattern direction; all available for quick reference on a knee board. 2. Make radio calls as soon as I am within 10 miles of an airport; even if I cannot say where I plan to enter the pattern in an initial call. 3. Keep an eye on airports for traffic below me and above me; and watch out for traffic on extended centerline. Next time I am at ZZZ I will try to avoid crossing centerline unless midfield. 4. Keep in mind that airport traffic can vary day to day.
J3 Cub pilot reported a near miss approaching the airport.