Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 243; Flight Crew Total 1440; Flight Crew Type 1300
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
While on a circling instrument approach to the departure end of the in-use runway; we had a near-miss with a departing aircraft. We made a radio call saying we were on a 2 mile final and we're going to circle to land the opposing runway shortly after the other aircraft called that they were taxiing to the active runway. I thought we would have plenty of time to sidestep to the downwind prior to the other aircraft taking off. As we got closer to our minimums; the student was asking questions and I; the instructor; missed the departing aircraft's radio call. As we started to level off for the rest of our approach; the student went to take off his foggles and that's when I saw the other aircraft and started a left turn; south; opposite the direction of the pattern. The other aircraft also got us in sight; made a radio call saying he saw us; and was turning left (north) into the pattern. Both aircraft landed without further incident. Had the other plane heard our 2 mile out call; which meant we were close to the airport; and waited until we called downwind; they could have given us the separation to complete our approach. Had I called for the downwind earlier; the student could have helped look for traffic and would not have been asking questions that took our attention away from the radio. Going forward; I will increase my personal minimums to pattern altitude when doing circling approaches. That will allow us to sidestep to the downwind further away from the runway and let the student help look for other traffic in the pattern.
An instructor pilot reported a NMAC with departing traffic while entering the pattern at the non-towered airport.