too close

[robertstodaro]

While flying north yesterday at 500ft I looked to my left and saw a helicopter headed west about 700ft or less. We must have crossed paths with 200ft sep. Nobody said anything on the radio and it was over before I was aware of it. I was flying down the right side of a country road and so was he. And that's all I have to say about that.

[PW_Plack]

My fixed-wing instructor taught me to always stay right of the centerline if I was following a road for navigation or as a worst-case emergency landing site, for just that reason.

I'm guessing it would be problematic if the approaching pilot was accustomed to driving on the left of the road in his home country...

[BEN S]

I had a situation with a federal LE plane when flying the fixed wing. Head on at same elevation I veer right and this schmuck veers LEFT! He passed me on my right wing about 100 ft from me smiling. I wasn't.
I made inqueries when I landed, and was told it was a student pilot, but I just didn't feel that formally reporting a fed would be in my best interest, so I handled it on an informal level. He got the message LIMA CHARLIE!
You gotta have a damn swivel head when flying!
Ben S

[brett s]

I got to where I'd ferry between ag jobs along the edge of the Everglades at about 100' agl, was tired of dodging student pilots & CFI's that weren't looking out the window (lots of flight schools in the area using it as a training area). I'd pop back up to around 500' when heading inland toward populated areas.

Can't even tell you how many planes I flew around that obviously never saw me...

[RotorTom]

While flying north yesterday at 500ft I looked to my left and saw a helicopter headed west about 700ft or less. We must have crossed paths with 200ft sep. Nobody said anything on the radio and it was over before I was aware of it. I was flying down the right side of a country road and so was he. And that's all I have to say about that.

Flying on either side of the road means little when you are converging at 90-degrees.

Some areas use air-to-air frequencies (like Denver metro). And nowadays, you can buy really cheap traffic avoidance systems.

In your scenario, no one really did anything wrong. Just not much you can do about it when low-level flying. If you were at cruising altitudes (3000 agl and above), then the "odds or evens plus 500 ft" rule would've applied.

[docrob]

Probably just a lost Navy pilot flying down the road looking for water.

Dr. Rob

[StanFoster]

I was flying my SparrowHawk on an 80 mile cross country one day. There about 5 miles at one o'clock was an aircraft headed my way...it was just a black speck. I kept an eye on it and it wasnt moving at all on windshield...except slowy getting larger. When it was about 2 miles away I made a slight heading change to the left. The aircraft was now moving slowly to the right...so....I had a diverging situation now. I just kept watching him as he was clearly going to miss me buy a good margin. About a quarter mile away.....he just saw me and made a radical turn to his left. It was a good reminder to always be on the lookout and dont assume they see you.


Stan

[Steve McGowan]

Ya musta hada TCAS in Ya pocket.. works very well don't it..

[fiveboy]

I announce short base and final. I couldnt be more than 400 feet agl. Guy unannounced cuts in front of me at high speed and lands. I was going to go over and ream him a new one but was advised that there was little point in ruining my day as he clearly just doesnt get it.

When they say uncontrolled in Panama they really mean it! (but then for the freedom here Ill deal with the occasional yahoo)