a-v-8er
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2002
- Posts
- 143
Two pilots (in heavily congested training area) have a near miss. One pilot (for unknown reason) files a complaint and the FAA starts an investigation. What is the best outcome from this scenario? Suspension after violating 91.113, 91.111 or 91.13? Neither pilot did anything careless or reckless, at least not intentionally. Personally, I think both were looking extra carefully outside (being aware of the tremendous amount of traffic in the area), but just happened to get too close without catching one another.
These "too close for comfort" misses occur almost weekly in this area, but this particular time someone possibly dug his own grave and in turn also someone else's by trying to blame the other pilot. Both pilots did keep a good scan for traffic seems like and it just so happened that the two planes came really close in a blind spot and corrective action to avoid a midair was taken at the very last moment!
I'm asking this hypothetically (since, this type of occurrence seems to happen much more often where I'm flying lately) and also, since I know one of the pilots involved in this thing that possibly seems to be turning into an investigation (still too early to tell and I don't have the details).
What, if anything can be expected once the Feds start digging into this. A lengthy investigation, suspensions and/or fines? Seems like the two pilots are equally responsible and since this happened in the traffic pattern how hard can they enforce 91.113 if both planes were flying the same leg or becoming established at the same point in the pattern without knowing about the other plane's whereabouts. Neither pilot was aware of the other plane until the incident occurred. In other words, who was overtaking whom or who had the right-of-way? Seems like, it's one guys word against the other's. Since the two planes had no previous contact whatsoever (radio calls or visual contact), how (or what kind of) action be taken against these guys from the complaint?
What's the normal time frame for investigations like these and possible outcomes?
How long is your license usually suspended should that happen?
These "too close for comfort" misses occur almost weekly in this area, but this particular time someone possibly dug his own grave and in turn also someone else's by trying to blame the other pilot. Both pilots did keep a good scan for traffic seems like and it just so happened that the two planes came really close in a blind spot and corrective action to avoid a midair was taken at the very last moment!
I'm asking this hypothetically (since, this type of occurrence seems to happen much more often where I'm flying lately) and also, since I know one of the pilots involved in this thing that possibly seems to be turning into an investigation (still too early to tell and I don't have the details).
What, if anything can be expected once the Feds start digging into this. A lengthy investigation, suspensions and/or fines? Seems like the two pilots are equally responsible and since this happened in the traffic pattern how hard can they enforce 91.113 if both planes were flying the same leg or becoming established at the same point in the pattern without knowing about the other plane's whereabouts. Neither pilot was aware of the other plane until the incident occurred. In other words, who was overtaking whom or who had the right-of-way? Seems like, it's one guys word against the other's. Since the two planes had no previous contact whatsoever (radio calls or visual contact), how (or what kind of) action be taken against these guys from the complaint?
What's the normal time frame for investigations like these and possible outcomes?
How long is your license usually suspended should that happen?