Narrative:

I was flying as safety pilot and PIC. The PF under the hood was instrument rated but not current. We had been cleared for an NDB runway 34 at awo to terminate with a low approach by ZSE. Runway 16 was in use at awo. At the OM the PF reported on CTAF that we were 5 mi south, flying an NDB to runway 34 low approach, wbound departure. I was looking for traffic, and no other traffic at awo was announcing. I reported at the railroad tracks approximately 2 mi south that we were low approach to runway 34. Shortly after, a cessna announced departing runway 16 to the southwest. At this time the cessna was 2 O'clock high with respect to us. A champ was on the upwind and not talking. We were to the east and above the champ and continued. After we passed the champ a voice announced on CTAF that 'cessna on approach awo is using runway 16.' I announced that I had the yellow pacer in sight, and would depart wbound. (I didn't realize it was a champ until we turned wbound.) the champ stayed in the pattern (not talking) and our departure took us over it (600- 700 ft). Usually when I see a situation like this developing, I have the PF abandon the approach early. It would have been more conservative to do so in this case, and would not have given anyone else cause for concern.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA APCHS AWO, WA, AS ANOTHER SMA IS DEPARTING. APCHING SMA WAITS TOO LONG TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT. A LESS SEVERE CONFLICT DEVELOPS.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AS SAFETY PLT AND PIC. THE PF UNDER THE HOOD WAS INST RATED BUT NOT CURRENT. WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR AN NDB RWY 34 AT AWO TO TERMINATE WITH A LOW APCH BY ZSE. RWY 16 WAS IN USE AT AWO. AT THE OM THE PF RPTED ON CTAF THAT WE WERE 5 MI S, FLYING AN NDB TO RWY 34 LOW APCH, WBOUND DEP. I WAS LOOKING FOR TFC, AND NO OTHER TFC AT AWO WAS ANNOUNCING. I RPTED AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS APPROX 2 MI S THAT WE WERE LOW APCH TO RWY 34. SHORTLY AFTER, A CESSNA ANNOUNCED DEPARTING RWY 16 TO THE SW. AT THIS TIME THE CESSNA WAS 2 O'CLOCK HIGH WITH RESPECT TO US. A CHAMP WAS ON THE UPWIND AND NOT TALKING. WE WERE TO THE E AND ABOVE THE CHAMP AND CONTINUED. AFTER WE PASSED THE CHAMP A VOICE ANNOUNCED ON CTAF THAT 'CESSNA ON APCH AWO IS USING RWY 16.' I ANNOUNCED THAT I HAD THE YELLOW PACER IN SIGHT, AND WOULD DEPART WBOUND. (I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A CHAMP UNTIL WE TURNED WBOUND.) THE CHAMP STAYED IN THE PATTERN (NOT TALKING) AND OUR DEP TOOK US OVER IT (600- 700 FT). USUALLY WHEN I SEE A SIT LIKE THIS DEVELOPING, I HAVE THE PF ABANDON THE APCH EARLY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONSERVATIVE TO DO SO IN THIS CASE, AND WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN ANYONE ELSE CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

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.