Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 3500; Flight Crew Type 1500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I was cleared for takeoff from Runway 23 (gravel runway) in Merrill Field Anchorage Alaska by the Tower of the airport. The Tower had given me the so called 'Chester Creek Departure' with the Altitude deviation across the Knik Arm of the Cook inlet; after I had talked to the Tower on the Ground frequency 121.70 about my intentions and asked for the deviation across the cold water. All normal procedures here in town! After getting cleared to takeoff I responded with repeating my clearance and that I am taking the runway for departure (on 126.00). After liftoff I climbed; as there are obstacles to clear etc. As I clear the obstacles I am still on runway heading and after clearing them I turn right about 20 degrees or so to go onto my 'Chester Creek departure' route: as cleared and as advertised by Tower and me. In this moment I notice a Cessna C172 coming at me head on; right down 'My' 'Chester Creek departure' at low altitude!!! I take evasive action by stopping the climb and banking right; bringing my flight path parallel and below to the head-on coming-at-me Cessna C172. - As I saw the Cessna C172 in time and evaded it there was no big danger but If I had not seen him it would have been head on for sure or an extremely close near miss. Had I flown a C185 it would have been head on for sure; had I been by myself or less fuel on board it would have 'fit' too!This should not have happened and it happens often in Merrill Field. There is nothing wrong with any of the airspace of the Airport or the procedures; its just that there are certain individuals on that tower that fail to warn of traffic conflicts in their airspace or they fail to warn certain flight instructors about their deviations!!! This C172 was LOW and should have been at full pattern altitude as it was on a downwind for Runway 25 !!! This is not the first close call I have had with this Tower. I am flying in Alaska and Anchorage for XX years. Depending on who is on this Tower I am either relaxed as I can trust the person I hear (and Know as known good) or I am nervous as I hear who it is ( and I know who I am talking about ) and I worry 'what will be messed up today?' again. As I am leery whenever I hear this person on the tower I do all I can to make it easy; and clear and precise and yet again this happened. How often will this continue to happen? I am pretty disgusted with the services of some (very FEW) of the controllers of Merrill Field Tower...
Pilot reported a NMAC occurred during takeoff climb and also expressed concern about Tower operations at the airport.