Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 270; Flight Crew Type 50
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Unauthorized Flight Operations (UAS)
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Following an extended Left Hand downwind for Runway 17 at JYO staying at pattern altitude; my Safety Pilot and I made a left turn towards final at 1;400 feet. Once established on the final towards the runway we started a slow descent. At 1;400 feet; about 2.5 miles from the runway on final; we noticed a red quadcopter drone coming towards us; it looked like it was moving towards the north. We descended a bit to 1;200 feet and the drone passed straight over us; missing the aircraft by about 100 to 200 feet vertical. The drone continued flying to the north on runway heading and we landed uneventfully. The encounter was immediately reported to ATC.
General aviation pilot had a near miss with a UAS while on approach and took evasive action.