PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was on short final for Rwy 30; winds reported ~ 7-8 knots from 280. I was slightly high on glide path; slightly to the right of centerline. A black drone came flying on a reciprocal track; just below me and slightly to my left. The drone was black; with a small light on the front. Because of the high closing speed and low-vis of the drone; it was past me (headed toward BUR class C airspace!) before I could take any action or even decide whether any was needed. I reported the near-miss to WHP Tower and do not know what if any action was taken by TWR. Airport was busy and one controller handling both ground and air traffic. I believe that if I'd been exactly on glideslope and exactly on centerline a midair would have been likely. The midair was prevented by my being slightly above glidepath and slightly right (in the process of correcting to centerline). No comments on prevention. No ability to avoid; target was too small and low-visibility. As to hitting a drone; being slightly high on final (rather than the common practice of 'dragging it in') means that if a collision made me deadstick I could still easily make the runway. I would also comment that I 'fly the plane'; it is more important to make the landing… midair or near-miss… than to get distracted trying to tell the tower the details of what happened. I believe that I would have been okay even if a drone midair killed the engine. I will say I am aghast at the selfishness and stupidity of flying a drone not only in airport space; but the 'wrong way' on final.
PA28 pilot on short final to Runway 30 at WHP experienced a NMAC with a drone flying in the opposite direction.