Old Bridge Airport near-miss

Описание: 2020 Sep 16 @ 3N6 Old Bridge Airport, NJ.

Multiple factors combined during this time that allowed the swiss-cheese to line up.

1. The aircraft on the ground later acknowledged he heard the 4-mile final call. FAR 91.113(g) states in part "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface". The ground aircraft should not have attempted a departure.

2. Runway 06 has a 600ft. displaced threshold due to trees at the beginning of the runway. Despite the trees being recently trimmed, it is still difficult to observe aircraft on short final while on the ground at the hold-short bars. It is likely that the departing aircraft did not see the traffic. The safety pilot would have been responsible for seeing the aircraft on the runway until 660ft MSL (240ft pressure altitude that day; as reported by ADS-B).

3. Landing aircraft should have heard and communicated when the departing aircraft announced his intention to take the runway for departure. The landing pilot was most likely distracted from the radio during this practice instrument approach.

4. After the departure radio call, 38 seconds elapsed between the time the aircraft taxied onto the runway and began rolling. However, only 7 seconds elapsed between the call and when the aircraft began taxing toward the runway.

5. Sterile cockpit. While not a rule in Part 91 flying, the "sterile cockpit" rule is often brought over from the airlines and used in GA. Generally, this rule prohibits non-essential duties/activities while not in cruise (this includes extraneous talk). Its possible that the extra chatter on the CTAF frequency distracted the departing pilot; or, prevented him from making a radio call regarding his departure sooner than he was able.

Based on the video and audio recordings, it appears that the landing aircraft spotted the traffic conflict early enough to effect a safe go-around, but opted to continue landing as the departing aircraft was already safely off the ground.