Cessna 152
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 139; Flight Crew Type 139
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
My instructor and I were doing pattern work and while flaring [for landing]; we saw an aircraft flying a non standard right hand traffic pattern for [the opposite direction runway]. We executed a go-around; sidestepped; and made a radio call. The other aircraft proceeded to land on [the opposite direction runway] and did not make any calls whatsoever. We passed each other as [the other aircraft] was landing and as we were climbing out. We did another trip around the pattern and landed without further incident. The other aircraft was a crop duster; so I realized he may not have had a radio; but he was still flying a non standard pattern at an airport where right traffic was not published for either runway. I realize he may not have broken any FARs; but the unusual pattern made it hard for us to spot him. I was focusing on the landing; and I was fortunate to have an instructor on board who spotted the other airplane. I suspect the other pilot was solo and was focusing on his landing too so this could easily have become a runway incursion or worse had my instructor not seen him.
A pilot and instructor were in the flare for landing when they spotted another aircraft on approach to the opposite direction runway. They took evasive action and the other aircraft landed normally. They also landed normally after a circuit around the pattern.