Potential conflict between a be-35 and a formation flight of 4 twin otters.

Attributes
ACN	297505
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ded
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : rjtg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Twin Otter DHC-6-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 260 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	297505
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Near miss near ded airport, deland, fl. I was transiting nebound 4 NM west of the field, to avoid parachute jumpers. A flight of 4 twin otters (turbo propellers) descended towards me at a high rate of descent, probably in the 'beta' mode, on final to runway 5. I was level in cruise of 2500 ft. The flight of 4 apparently saw me, but took no evasive action. I turned right to avoid a mid-air, but this took me closer to the jump area. Jump planes should use the same normal descent and approach procedures as all other aircraft. In their haste to fly more jumps, (meaning more money), such high descent approachs are used all too often, endangering other aircraft operating in the area. I was monitoring unicom for traffic and heard the pilots of the flight of 4 snickering that 'I didn't even see them.' their lack of effort to avoid a traffic conflict indicates an attitude that they, the jump planes 'own' the airspace surrounding jump airports. Normal pattern altitude is around '4000 ft' at ded. These planes were on apparently a 5 mi straight in approach starting from 6000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT BTWN A BE-35 AND A FORMATION FLT OF 4 TWIN OTTERS.

Narrative: NEAR MISS NEAR DED ARPT, DELAND, FL. I WAS TRANSITING NEBOUND 4 NM W OF THE FIELD, TO AVOID PARACHUTE JUMPERS. A FLT OF 4 TWIN OTTERS (TURBO PROPS) DSNDED TOWARDS ME AT A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT, PROBABLY IN THE 'BETA' MODE, ON FINAL TO RWY 5. I WAS LEVEL IN CRUISE OF 2500 FT. THE FLT OF 4 APPARENTLY SAW ME, BUT TOOK NO EVASIVE ACTION. I TURNED R TO AVOID A MID-AIR, BUT THIS TOOK ME CLOSER TO THE JUMP AREA. JUMP PLANES SHOULD USE THE SAME NORMAL DSCNT AND APCH PROCS AS ALL OTHER ACFT. IN THEIR HASTE TO FLY MORE JUMPS, (MEANING MORE MONEY), SUCH HIGH DSCNT APCHS ARE USED ALL TOO OFTEN, ENDANGERING OTHER ACFT OPERATING IN THE AREA. I WAS MONITORING UNICOM FOR TFC AND HEARD THE PLTS OF THE FLT OF 4 SNICKERING THAT 'I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THEM.' THEIR LACK OF EFFORT TO AVOID A TFC CONFLICT INDICATES AN ATTITUDE THAT THEY, THE JUMP PLANES 'OWN' THE AIRSPACE SURROUNDING JUMP ARPTS. NORMAL PATTERN ALT IS AROUND '4000 FT' AT DED. THESE PLANES WERE ON APPARENTLY A 5 MI STRAIGHT IN APCH STARTING FROM 6000 FT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.