Pilot of C172RG has close proximity to tower located off the end of runway 17 at etn airport. Tower ...

Attributes
ACN	408241
Time
Date	199807
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : etn
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 330 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	408241
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : unable
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During climb out from eastland airport runway 17, I came close to flying into a radio antenna-tower, located less than 1/2 statute mi south of the departure end of runway 17. Due to the nose high attitude during climb out the tower was impossible to see, even though I knew it was there. Contributing factors was high density altitude and a light wind from southwest. I feel that safety would be enhanced for both departing and arriving aircraft if the tower was relocated. Its presence is not mentioned in the airport facility directory. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that the tower is located just slightly east of the alignment of runway 17 on departure at about 1/4 mi out. It is about 500 ft high. This seems low, but on departure as he experienced the nose high attitude does not allow for the tower to be in sight. On an approach to runway 35 one is at about that altitude when making a turn to final. He would like to see the tower relocated, but at least noted on the charts and in the airport facility directory. A strobe light would be a good addition to identify the tower as well. Reporter was advised of the hotline number.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C172RG HAS CLOSE PROX TO TWR LOCATED OFF THE END OF RWY 17 AT ETN ARPT. TWR IS NOT LIGHTED, NOT MENTIONED IN THE ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY AND NOT SHOWN ON CHARTS.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FROM EASTLAND ARPT RWY 17, I CAME CLOSE TO FLYING INTO A RADIO ANTENNA-TWR, LOCATED LESS THAN 1/2 STATUTE MI S OF THE DEP END OF RWY 17. DUE TO THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DURING CLBOUT THE TWR WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW IT WAS THERE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WAS HIGH DENSITY ALT AND A LIGHT WIND FROM SW. I FEEL THAT SAFETY WOULD BE ENHANCED FOR BOTH DEPARTING AND ARRIVING ACFT IF THE TWR WAS RELOCATED. ITS PRESENCE IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE TWR IS LOCATED JUST SLIGHTLY E OF THE ALIGNMENT OF RWY 17 ON DEP AT ABOUT 1/4 MI OUT. IT IS ABOUT 500 FT HIGH. THIS SEEMS LOW, BUT ON DEP AS HE EXPERIENCED THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE TWR TO BE IN SIGHT. ON AN APCH TO RWY 35 ONE IS AT ABOUT THAT ALT WHEN MAKING A TURN TO FINAL. HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TWR RELOCATED, BUT AT LEAST NOTED ON THE CHARTS AND IN THE ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY. A STROBE LIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD ADDITION TO IDENT THE TWR AS WELL. RPTR WAS ADVISED OF THE HOTLINE NUMBER.

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.

Pilot of C172RG has close proximity to tower located off the end of runway 17 at etn airport. Tower is not lighted, not mentioned in the airport facility directory and not shown on charts.