Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 49; Flight Crew Total 343; Flight Crew Type 24
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I was relocating Aircraft X across the field at ZZZ from the West Ramp to the East Ramp via Taxiway's A; V; and B. I had reviewed the airfields AWOS/ Weather prior to taxi and was communicating on CTAF frequency.The incident occurred after I had crossed the approach end of XXR and taxing along Taxiway V prior to XXL. During my taxi across both of the parallel runways and taxiways; I was communicating my intentions with CTAF. Prior to crossing the XXL/XXR runway at Taxiway V to B I called my intentions over CTAF and checked both of the approach ends of the runway (including all visible portions of the runway). Upon confirming they were clear; I proceeded across the hold short line of XXL towards Taxiway B from V when a Cirrus SR-22 crested the hill of XYR and became airborne. I immediately stopped my aircraft; coming to a halt after the hold short line (~15ft) but prior to entering the main portion of the runway. I proceeded to stay put in the event the aircraft taking off had to make an emergency landing with the remaining runway. The cirrus continued their climb out overtop of my aircraft and continued on the upwind for runway XYR and departed the area. Prior to seeing their aircraft become airborne; I had not heard their aircraft communicate over the CTAF frequency. I did however hear an aircraft in the downwind at the time; and later the Cirrus involved in this incident call their upwind (This call from the Cirrus was after they had flown over my aircraft). Some things to note:1) ZZZ is normally a Class D airport with operating control tower; but due to COVID-19 - The control towers hours are limited. I believe that if the tower was still in operation; this incident would not have taken place.2) The XXL/XYR Runway has an elevation change of 15 feet with XXL being at XXX feet and XYR being at XXY ft. It was difficult to see the XYR entrance to the runway from my position on the XXL side; taxiway V. There also appears to be a hill about halfway down the runway. This hill; the elevation change; and the fact that the Cirrus was a dark gray and blended in with the Asphalt environment; on top of the lack of a CTAF call for take off led to this event taking place.I firmly believe that if the tower was in operation at this time; and the Cirrus was communicating over CTAF no incident would've occurred.
Pilot reported a critical ground conflict with a non reporting departure aircraft.