Reporter protests jumpers at edge of airport in traffic pattern one side of airport.

Attributes
ACN	197484
Time
Date	199112
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : e14
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 20000
ASRS Report	197484
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While landing under VFR conditions at the tucson, az, avra valley airport (an uncontrolled airport), and after attempting to contact unicom on 122.8, I entered what I thought was the correct landing pattern, only to see four parachute jumpers in the same pattern. I turned out around them (with plenty of room to spare) and re-entered on the other side of the airport. I was informed that the unicom frequency had been changed and that parachute jumpers had taken over that side of the airport (which was sure the truth). The jumping was nonstop. All in all it seems to me to be a very unsafe condition to allow parachute jumpers to use an uncontrolled GA airport as a landing and training area. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. I was unaware that jumping was in progress or even allowed at the airport. Had been several years since I had flown in there. One of the jumpers came over when I was on the ground and read me off for coming too close to the jumpers, implied that they owned the airport or at least he acted like it. It is dangerous for jumpers to use an airport. Sooner or later someone will not see them and run into a jumper.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR PROTESTS JUMPERS AT EDGE OF ARPT IN TFC PATTERN ONE SIDE OF ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE LNDG UNDER VFR CONDITIONS AT THE TUCSON, AZ, AVRA VALLEY ARPT (AN UNCTLED ARPT), AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT UNICOM ON 122.8, I ENTERED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE CORRECT LNDG PATTERN, ONLY TO SEE FOUR PARACHUTE JUMPERS IN THE SAME PATTERN. I TURNED OUT AROUND THEM (WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO SPARE) AND RE-ENTERED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARPT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNICOM FREQ HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THAT PARACHUTE JUMPERS HAD TAKEN OVER THAT SIDE OF THE ARPT (WHICH WAS SURE THE TRUTH). THE JUMPING WAS NONSTOP. ALL IN ALL IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION TO ALLOW PARACHUTE JUMPERS TO USE AN UNCTLED GA ARPT AS A LNDG AND TRAINING AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. I WAS UNAWARE THAT JUMPING WAS IN PROGRESS OR EVEN ALLOWED AT THE ARPT. HAD BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I HAD FLOWN IN THERE. ONE OF THE JUMPERS CAME OVER WHEN I WAS ON THE GND AND READ ME OFF FOR COMING TOO CLOSE TO THE JUMPERS, IMPLIED THAT THEY OWNED THE ARPT OR AT LEAST HE ACTED LIKE IT. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR JUMPERS TO USE AN ARPT. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL NOT SEE THEM AND RUN INTO A JUMPER.

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.