Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft; Human Factors
I was completing maneuvers at 8500 MSL in the North Lake Tahoe; Truckee; California area upon the completion of which a last minute decision was made to make a practice landing followed by an immediate departure at TVL; a non-towered airport. TVL lands to the south and takes off to the north due to terrain considerations. ASOS (124.725) was repeatedly monitored; followed by a monitor of the CTAF (122.95). CTAF revealed that two business jets were some 15 minutes out; so I loitered so as to give them plenty of space; followed by which; some 20 miles out from TVL; I transmitted my intention to land. ASOS was again checked. The same thing was done 10 miles out and 3 miles out. At no time was any communication received which was directed at me; or which would lead me to believe anything was amiss. Transmissions to; and from; the FBO were received; but these were made by; and for; other aircraft. I landed RWY 16; taxied to the end; turned off; set up for the standard (due to terrain) RWY 36 departure and announced my intention to take the active and depart. On the takeoff roll; suddenly; on the CTAF frequency (122.95) a voice barked that there was a 'temporary' control tower in effect. It was too late to abort. During the takeoff and while the aircraft was getting configured; a steady stream of communication took place. Questions being asked as to tail number; and destination; and demanding I copy a 'call the tower' number when able. When; I couldn't act fast enough; I was gigged again. I then was able to take down the number. Conversation followed wherein I inquired as to why no one had advised that the 'temporary' tower was in effect; and I noted that although I had reported 20 miles out; 10 out; and 3 out and also upon retaking the active for departure; they just decided to communicate with me now even though in the subsequent phone call that followed; the tower said they were monitoring at all times 122.95. The woman I was talking to was nonresponsive. Upon calling the 'temporary'; I was told that the reason for the temporary tower being established was a [event]. I asked the same questions as referenced above and was told that no communication had been received from me at any of the 4 (claimed) on-field monitoring stations referenced above. But why then was I not contacted on the landing rollout which takes some time to complete? No satisfactory answers were offered to any of said questions. Tower told me that it does monitor CTAF as do 3 other locations on the field and that all had been checked and that none revealed any reception from me. I respectfully do not believe this. For some reason tower and the FBOs chose not to communicate. The annual for [the BE33] had been performed in June; and on the long flight home the aircraft was in constant radar contact. I experienced no problems with the radios in the aircraft. Tower seemed to imply that a problem existed with respect to the radios. I asked tower if no contact had been received on the in-bound leg; then why were my responses received and transmitted so crystal clear once tower yelled at me after I had properly announced my take-off intentions and commenced my take-off roll? Were their radios turned off or not functioning? Were their radios not; in fact; being monitored for the time in question? Did tower really check to see if the other asserted monitoring stations received the in-bound calls? Why was there no tower communication during the long roll-out upon landing when there is no reason tower did not have a visual on [the Bonanza]? No satisfactory answers were received. Is this a situation where the towers lapse is blamed on the pilot because that is just easier? Only suggestion from tower was possible defective radio in my aircraft; which I know is not so of my own knowledge through experience and use; and that of my mechanic.Suggested corrective action; if there is a temporary tower at a non-towered airport; include a reference to it in the ASOS. Give pilots reasonable notice; especially important for pilots making practice landing at airports they did not intend to land at when initial takeoff occurred. Safety first!
BE33 pilot reports an unplanned practice landing at TVL. CTAF procedures are employed and two business jets are allowed to land before the reporter. The landing is completed and the aircraft is taxied clear in preparation for takeoff on the reciprocal runway. On the takeoff roll; a temporary Tower Controller comes on the CTAF and advises that a temporary Tower is in operation.