Lancair 360 MK II | N3602M

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the aircraft arrived from the northwest in a high speed descending opposite direction pattern entry for the runway in use, runway 12. The aircraft maneuvered in a non standard way while in the vicinity of the traffic pattern before entering the downwind. The aircraft flew several circuits in the traffic pattern before configuring for landing. During the final approach, the aircraft made a position report as on final for runway 12, but did not engage in communication with a training flight 172, N463ER, directly ahead. The 172 had planned a touch and go, but ended up being a stop and go. The female CFI and male student in the 172 made a takeoff following the stop and go landing, but was unaware of the proximity of the landing traffic behind her. The accident Lancair aircraft elected to go around just as the 172 was lifting off, and both flew exactly runway centerline, the 172 climbing slowly and the accident aircraft more level and gaining speed. At about 200 AGL, the accident aircraft flew into the prop arc of the 172 from below it, and then crashed immediately. The 172 CFI was heard to say “He hit us” on the radio, indicating that she knew that “he”, the other go around airplane was near them. The CFI then flew the traffic pattern back for a normal landing. The only damage to the 172 was propeller tip damage. It is unclear where the 172 prop intersected the accident Lancair but the occupants were either incapacitated, or the aircraft was no longer controllable at that point.

NTSB: NONE

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft use standard traffic pattern flow, and make more than position reports on Unicom or CTAF frequencies. Your position report does not imply that the other aircraft understands or that you have something worked out. The DTSB recommends that more aircraft to aircraft communication occur during times where position, sequence, and procedures should be discussed via radio.

NTSB: NONE