PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 2600; Flight Crew Type 100
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
I spotted the airport from 20 miles away. I had been cleared for a visual approach and cancelled IFR when I began making radio calls to the local traffic. The wind was reported as 4 kts from the north so I announced landing runway 35. One aircraft was using runway 30/left traffic; away from my approach from the east. My fourth radio call was made while turning final approach to runway 35 at 500 FT AGL. Shortly after; the pilot of a Bonanza announced that he was taking off runway 17. I asked him; 'Did you just say 17?' He responded affirmatively and that he was going. I told him I was on final but he continued straight towards me. I did not have him in sight nor was I aware of his departure intentions. I immediately made a right turn (away from all runways; to the east) and waited for the Bonanza pilot to make another call. The pilot using 30 made a call that he was on left downwind. The Bonanza pilot called he was turning right downwind for 17 and departing to the north. He did not indicate that he had either me or the other aircaft in sight. No one at the FBO I went to knew the pilot or the tail number of the Bonanza. He could have killed me or the other pilot in the area and will likely retain his hazardous attitudes and actions until someone gets hurt. He clearly had a working radio and could hear us just fine. The only way to prevent this from happening again is for him to receive instruction from a CFI or government official. Unfortunately this airport is uncontrolled so there is likely no record of the radio transmission. Therefore there will be no recourse for this blatant disregard for safety as well as right-of-way laws.
The pilot of a Piper PA-46 announced his progress into the area on the CTAF frequency. While on final; he was surprised to hear of another pilot announcing his takeoff roll from the opposite direction runway. He took evasive action and heard the other pilot depart the area with no acknowledgment of the other aircraft in the pattern.