An RV4 pilot turned his radio volume down during flight and after returning to his home CTAF airport...

Narrative:

It was a nice calm january day; and I decided to take my RV4 out for a local flight around the lakes area. Returning to my home base from the west at pattern altitude; I announced on the CTAF that I was 3 miles west entering crosswind for runway 23. I then reported entering downwind for runway 23 (6;500 ft long runway). As I was downwind I noticed an airplane in the run-up area for runway 23; and another aircraft taxiing down to and nearing the run-up area for 23. I hadn't heard anyone else on the radio; and; the aircraft in the run-up area didn't appear to be getting ready to taxi out for take-off; so I decided to make a 'short approach' thinking I did not want to hold up the aircraft getting ready to go. I need less than 3;000 ft to land on the 6;500 ft runway. So; abeam the end of the runway I announced turning base for runway 23. Shortly after I turned final and less than 100 ft AGL; I noticed a pilatus pc-12 going by me on my right side; and making a go-around. I also decided to make a go around as I was a bit flustered and distracted. As I was making the go-around; and following the pilatus around the pattern; I was trying to figure out what just happened; and how did I miss the aircraft on final. My thoughts immediately turned to the radio since I had heard no other traffic. I noticed that I was on the right frequency; so I reached for the volume knob; and sure enough I had it turned all the way down. The primary problem was that I had the volume on my radio turned down and just assumed there was no other traffic; and that the guys taxing just weren't saying anything yet. I often times turn it down when I am away from the airport. I need to ensure that I turn it back up when headed back to the airport. A contributing factor was my focused attention on the two aircraft at or near the run-up area. I should have made a closer look for aircraft on final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An RV4 pilot turned his radio volume down during flight and after returning to his home CTAF airport had an airborne conflict with a PC-12 because he did not hear traffic position/intention reporting.

Narrative: It was a nice calm January day; and I decided to take my RV4 out for a local flight around the lakes area. Returning to my home base from the west at pattern altitude; I announced on the CTAF that I was 3 miles west entering crosswind for Runway 23. I then reported entering downwind for Runway 23 (6;500 FT long runway). As I was downwind I noticed an airplane in the run-up area for Runway 23; and another aircraft taxiing down to and nearing the run-up area for 23. I hadn't heard anyone else on the radio; and; the aircraft in the run-up area didn't appear to be getting ready to taxi out for take-off; so I decided to make a 'short approach' thinking I did not want to hold up the aircraft getting ready to go. I need less than 3;000 FT to land on the 6;500 FT runway. So; abeam the end of the runway I announced turning base for Runway 23. Shortly after I turned final and less than 100 FT AGL; I noticed a Pilatus PC-12 going by me on my right side; and making a go-around. I also decided to make a go around as I was a bit flustered and distracted. As I was making the go-around; and following the Pilatus around the pattern; I was trying to figure out what just happened; and how did I miss the aircraft on final. My thoughts immediately turned to the radio since I had heard no other traffic. I noticed that I was on the right frequency; so I reached for the volume knob; and sure enough I had it turned all the way down. The primary problem was that I had the volume on my radio turned down and just assumed there was no other traffic; and that the guys taxing just weren't saying anything yet. I often times turn it down when I am away from the airport. I need to ensure that I turn it back up when headed back to the airport. A contributing factor was my focused attention on the two aircraft at or near the run-up area. I should have made a closer look for aircraft on final.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	988233
Time
Date	201201
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	RV-4
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Component
Aircraft Component	Air/Ground Communication
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 12000 Flight Crew Type 150
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

An RV4 pilot turned his radio volume down during flight and after returning to his home CTAF airport had an airborne conflict with a pc-12 because he did not hear traffic position/intention reporting.