No Call to Close Call: Keep Vigilant Even on Familiar Runway

Routine instructional flight turns into a heart-stopping moment when two aircraft unexpectedly meet on a hidden runway.

Tim Thompson

Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Be especially vigilant on runways you are most comfortable with. [Illustration: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

While landing at a quiet, hilly grass strip, a pilot experienced a head-on near collision with an unannounced Cessna 182 that suddenly appeared over a runway obstruction.
Despite making CTAF calls and checking a 2-mile traffic display, the incident occurred due to the other pilot's lack of communication and the runway's obscured view.
The experience emphasized critical aviation safety lessons, including avoiding complacency, utilizing all aircraft visibility aids, optimizing traffic display settings, and maintaining heightened vigilance, especially on familiar airfields.

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One beautiful morning, I rolled up to a grass strip in Florida just before the sun came up. I noticed a Cessna 182 completing his run-up and watched him depart as I rolled back the hangar doors. I was going to meet my friend Charley for an early morning instructional flight in a light sport aircraft (LSA) I was considering purchasing, and I wanted to get a head start on my preflight.

Our taxi and departure to the east was smooth and the climbout from the undulating runway was beautiful as the sun peeked over the horizon.