20220820020112A

Investigation. Landing airplane completed a passenger ride, finishing up at around 1,500 ft AGL near the airport. He checked the pattern for other aircraft while making a few steep turns. Seeing that the pattern was clear, he approached the northern end of the runway in a shallow dive and made a low pass at approximately 100 to 200 feet AGL over the right side of the runway, heading to the south. He then started a climb prior to the end of the runway and turned to the right making a 180-degree climbing course change into the right downwind per normal operations at the Flying Circus Aerodrome during ride operations.

The procedure for pattern operations at the time of the incident was to make a low pass before landing to signal to departing aircraft that the pilot intended to land. When an airplane on the ground observes the low pass by the airplane intending to land, they are required to hold short of the end of the runway until the landing airplane has landed and cleared the runway, then they are allow to depart. This procedure has been a long-standing procedure in effect at the airport due to the fact that there is a mix of airplanes that operate there that are not radio equipped.

At the time of the incident, the pilot intending to land observed an airplane departing from the runway towards the south and a second airplane sitting at the end of the runway waiting for takeoff. Landing airplane continued to fly the downwind for the approach and turned right base. He remained close to the runway with his pattern as required, so that he could be observed by other planes on the ground. He again checked the runway from the base leg, noted it was clear, and turned final, approaching the trees at the approach end of the runway. He again observed that the runway ahead of him was clear and initiated his final descent for landing after passing over the trees on the approach end of the runway.

Landing airplane maintained a speed of approximately 65 to 70 mph with his engine at idle by this time. Suddenly he observed departing airplane under the right side of the airplane just as they collided. Departing airplane was slightly to his right, causing him to descend onto its top left wing. His airplane decelerated rapidly, there was noise of the collision, and his plane turned about 90 degrees to the right and stopped. Departing airplane at that time had come to rest upside down nearly right in front of the nose of his airplane.

Once all motion had ceased, the pilot checked his passenger, who had minor or no injuries, and moved to a safe location. He also checked the pilot and passenger of the other airplane who were ok with apparent minor injuries. The pilot secured the accident plane by shutting off all electrical switches, the mag switch and fuel shutoff. There was no fuel leaking from either airplane, and there was no fire or smoke. The Flying Circus ground crew and other first responder personnel responded without delay.