ultralight encounter

[flyguy]

In reference to Bill's comment on ultralight maintenance on the Sport Pilot thread:
A few years ago I was doing touch and goes at South Sonoma Airport (Shellville to most) and this ultralight just ignores me and takes off on the shorter surfaced cross runway. I spot him just as he pulls up to my left, same altitude, headed for a 90 degree intercept. I veer left and he does a tight turn right in front of me down my runway headed right at me. I go into a vertical turn, pulling G's, maybe 100 ft off the deck. I think he finally saw me as he flashed by my belly with me in the vertical bank. It is a credit to Taylorcraft that I didn't do an accelerated stall and/or just plain hit the ground. Closest I ever came to dying in an airplane.
Needless to say that little bit of fun forever colored my attitude about ultralights.
Darryl

[astjp2]

Re: ultralight encounter

It almost makes you wish that you had a gun mount!!

[Don]

Re: ultralight encounter

Darryl, Lucky you were flying a TC, AND had the SKILLS to see and avoid.
Good job!!!!! How do you find the Sport Pilot Thread?
Don

[flyguy]

Re: ultralight encounter

It is "Proposed sport pilot changes," on this discussion group that I was refering to.
DC

[crispy critter]

Re: ultralight encounter

Darryl,
I understand what you are saying but that wasn't any fault of the ultralite,that was stupidity on the guy flying it. I think he and I would have had words if I had been in your shoes.

[flyguy]

Re: ultralight encounter

You know how some 'nam vets are to the sound of a helicopter, well that is the way I react to ultra-lights. Irrational.
I actually followed the plane for about 20 minutes, but lost him when I was checking for traffic. He didn't come back to that airport for a long time that day, I know that. Later, never was sure which of 3 similar aircraft in the area it was. Good thing I didn't catch him, probably would have punched his lights out. Anyway for a long time I thought about whether I did something wrong by not seeing him on the ground at the end of the cross runway. I was in the air headed for the intersection as he started rolling, and he just popped right up, almost in front of me.
In spite of that I am still rather impressed with the design and performance of some of the better ultralights. It is amazing how when you take off 1 lb that you can usually take of another 1/2 pound somewhere else.
Darryl

[tawadc95]

Re: ultralight encounter

It is not just ultralight pilots.....I was almost ran over by an a-4 skyhawk at twilight while we were both under the control of center.
what it gets down to is we are responsible for our own safety.

[crispy critter]

Re: ultralight encounter

I almost went head to head with a Tri-pacer once. I was landing my C-170 in one direction and he was landing the other. We were both on short final,flaps down,crossing the threshold when we spotted each other. We both throttled up and broke left. We worked it out on the ground like gentlemen and after dicussing it for a few minutes we agrreed that we were both at fault. Niether of us made a radio call,neither of us really flew a text book pattern,and it was at one of those airports where you almost never see 2 airplanes in the air at the same time. We parted with a laugh and a handshake. I can honestly say this,I never go into an airport now without thinking of this inncident and I always keep a closer eye out for the other guy.

[Ryan]

Re: ultralight encounter

Kevin I had a similar encounter as you, except I was in the Pacer and he was in the C-170. aircraft had been landing on runway 10 all day including me, and he used 28. Saw him as I was crossing the numbers and throttled and went around. Wasn't to bad except I was nervous because it was my FIRST solo! Funny thing was I was talking on the radio the whole time. I always give a second look now too.

Ryan

[NC95842]

Re: ultralight encounter

I had two old-Bold pliots come head on at me inverted in matching pits.

[crispy critter]

Re: ultralight encounter

I had two old-Bold pliots come head on at me inverted in matching pits.

Now that sounds exciting!

[Dano"T"]

Re: ultralight encounter

I was taking off from my lake last night and went head to head with a bald Eagle.....he folded up and dove for the surface of the water.....whew..that was close....I can't imagine what a mess it would have been if I had hit him. I had a similar encounter last year....I had better watch the traffic pattern more closely. I was complacent since I am the only plane on our lake. This may sound like I'm joking....but I'm quite serious....It was really close.