PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 131; Flight Crew Total 797; Flight Crew Type 132
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Conflict NMAC
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
We were cleared for takeoff on Runway 7R. Shortly after takeoff; when we were approximately 50 FT above the ground and midway down the runway; I spotted another aircraft about 1 mile ahead of us and higher. This is not uncommon because the airport is very busy. I then realized that the aircraft was not climbing; but was descending. My first thought was that the aircraft suffered an engine failure and was going to have to make a forced landing. Then I realized that the aircraft was now about 1/2 mile ahead of us and was not climbing out of 7R; but instead was landing opposite of us on Runway 25L.At this point the aircraft was below our aircraft and very soon passed about 50 FT below us traveling opposite our flight path. At the time our flight paths crossed our aircraft was about 100 FT AGL and the other aircraft was about 50 FT AGL. The opposite direction traffic landed on 25L and Tower promptly cancelled the takeoff clearance of the aircraft that was given clearance for takeoff after our departure and told them to vacate the runway. To my knowledge; no accident occurred and no one was hurt in this event. Also to my knowledge; the aircraft that landed on 25L was not on frequency and was not talking to anybody within the airspace during the entire event. I am unaware of what type of situation caused the other aircraft to land on Runway 25L while Runway 7R was in use; but to my knowledge the Tower does have radar services and should have been able to see and avoid this situation before it reached such a dangerous level.
A departing PA-28 flight instructor and his student experienced an NMAC with a C-172 landing opposite direction on the same runway; the pilot of which was not in contact with the Tower.