A stearman pilot executed a low altitude go-around at a CTAF airport after misjudging the traffic pa...

Attributes
ACN	851936
Time
Date	200909
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	Stearman
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb Final Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Stearman
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Other Low Pass
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26 Flight Crew Total 27501 Flight Crew Type 319
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Horizontal 100 Vertical 250

Narrative:

I overtook the preceding aircraft in the traffic pattern that was making a low pass on the runway at a local fly-in event. My plan was also to make a low pass behind the preceding pilot; whom I knew. I mismanaged the size of the pattern by turning base leg too soon and also was carrying too much speed. Approaching the runway threshold; I stopped the descent at 200 ft AGL and began a go-around with a slight left turn to the left of the centerline in order to keep the preceding aircraft in sight just ahead of me. At mid-field I made a left climbing turn for a crosswind exit of the traffic pattern. The preceding aircraft was flying at 50 ft or less above the runway surface at the time. Perhaps the social occasion of a fly-in event produces a temptation to show off; which is to be recognized and avoided. The low pass maneuver was not a good idea and should not have been tried. It produces an unnecessary risk.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Stearman pilot executed a low altitude go-around at a CTAF airport after misjudging the traffic pattern size; his speed and relative position to another Stearman making a very low pass.

Narrative: I overtook the preceding aircraft in the traffic pattern that was making a low pass on the runway at a local fly-in event. My plan was also to make a low pass behind the preceding pilot; whom I knew. I mismanaged the size of the pattern by turning base leg too soon and also was carrying too much speed. Approaching the runway threshold; I stopped the descent at 200 FT AGL and began a go-around with a slight left turn to the left of the centerline in order to keep the preceding aircraft in sight just ahead of me. At mid-field I made a left climbing turn for a crosswind exit of the traffic pattern. The preceding aircraft was flying at 50 FT or less above the runway surface at the time. Perhaps the social occasion of a fly-in event produces a temptation to show off; which is to be recognized and avoided. The low pass maneuver was not a good idea and should not have been tried. It produces an unnecessary risk.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A stearman pilot executed a low altitude go-around at a CTAF airport after misjudging the traffic pattern size; his speed and relative position to another stearman making a very low pass.