Pilot of C140 encounters opposite direction landing traffic during his approach to runway 20 at fbl.

Attributes
ACN	620019
Time
Date	200406
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fbl.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 140
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	620019
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : person 4
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was taking a fellow on a demonstration flight in my C140 (he was considering buying it). The WX was clear, winds calm. Glider tow operations in progress, plus lots of pleasure flying. With the calm winds, though, people were using both directions of both runways (4 runways in use!) at this uncontrolled field, so it was hectic. We were turning final for runway 20 (I had repeatedly given our position on unicom) and I was looking everywhere for traffic, as was my passenger. Suddenly, someone said on unicom, 'cessna on final for runway 20, do you see the tow plane landing on runway 2?' we looked and saw him coming over the threshold on our runway, at the far end, facing us! I proceeded to do a go around, of course. I'm always careful to look for traffic, but missed this one. Adding to the problem was the nice day with calm winds, making everyone just choose the runway that was most convenient for them. Also adding to the problem was the tow plane not announcing his position in the pattern on unicom.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C140 ENCOUNTERS OPPOSITE DIRECTION LNDG TFC DURING HIS APCH TO RWY 20 AT FBL.

Narrative: I WAS TAKING A FELLOW ON A DEMONSTRATION FLT IN MY C140 (HE WAS CONSIDERING BUYING IT). THE WX WAS CLR, WINDS CALM. GLIDER TOW OPS IN PROGRESS, PLUS LOTS OF PLEASURE FLYING. WITH THE CALM WINDS, THOUGH, PEOPLE WERE USING BOTH DIRECTIONS OF BOTH RWYS (4 RWYS IN USE!) AT THIS UNCTLED FIELD, SO IT WAS HECTIC. WE WERE TURNING FINAL FOR RWY 20 (I HAD REPEATEDLY GIVEN OUR POS ON UNICOM) AND I WAS LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR TFC, AS WAS MY PAX. SUDDENLY, SOMEONE SAID ON UNICOM, 'CESSNA ON FINAL FOR RWY 20, DO YOU SEE THE TOW PLANE LNDG ON RWY 2?' WE LOOKED AND SAW HIM COMING OVER THE THRESHOLD ON OUR RWY, AT THE FAR END, FACING US! I PROCEEDED TO DO A GAR, OF COURSE. I'M ALWAYS CAREFUL TO LOOK FOR TFC, BUT MISSED THIS ONE. ADDING TO THE PROB WAS THE NICE DAY WITH CALM WINDS, MAKING EVERYONE JUST CHOOSE THE RWY THAT WAS MOST CONVENIENT FOR THEM. ALSO ADDING TO THE PROB WAS THE TOW PLANE NOT ANNOUNCING HIS POS IN THE PATTERN ON UNICOM.

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.