Viking
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 23; Flight Crew Total 7700; Flight Crew Type 6
Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Airport
Upon taking off; I narrowly missed an aircraft taxiing back on the same runway from the opposite end that I was using. After buying fuel; I was talking with my passenger on the intercom as we taxied for takeoff. We both wore noise canceling headsets. I set the intercom volume for a comfortable level during engine idle.After a runup and positioning on the runway; I advanced the throttle and could no longer hear my passenger due to low intercom volume. Seeing that the runway appeared clear; I proceeded to takeoff. My passenger warned me about an aircraft on the runway but I could not hear him due to the low intercom volume. Neither the other pilot nor I talked on the radio announcing that both of us were using the runway simultaneously.After takeoff my passenger made the comment that I didn't announce my intentions to takeoff; and neither did the other pilot announce that he was using the runway for back taxi from the opposite end. I am reminded that at uncontrolled non-tower airports; the radio is not a requirement; but very helpful indeed in a situation like this. Even so I was not sure that the other airplane had a radio at all; because it was an Aeronca Champ.The other airplane taxiied off the runway onto the grass while I continued to takeoff. It is somewhat difficult to see another aircraft at opposite ends of a long runway. From my view; the other plane must have blended into the background. The view from the pilot's seat out the windshield of the Bellanca is somewhat obscured due to the nose up angle at which the airplane sits on the ground during takeoff roll. Probably the view out the Aeronca is not that great either; since it has a tail wheel. I can't say to install a control tower at all airports; but I could see that this airplane is moved to an airport with a tower. Other than that; be more observant and more careful.
Bellanca pilot reports a take off conflict with an Aeronca back taxiing from the opposite end of the runway. Neither pilot was using their radio and the Aeronca taxiied off the runway to avoid a collision.