Pilot's IMPROPER DECISION to attempt VFR in IMC | Lost Control & CRASHED!!
8,175
Published 2024-06-26
On 20 May 2018, #N1101X pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during a turn.
• Pilot's IMPROPER DECISION to attempt ... …
Narrative:
After receiving commercial and flight instructor certificates with a designated pilot examiner (DPE), the instrument-rated commercial pilot planned to fly back to his home airport the following day. The DPE reviewed weather with the pilot and advised him to delay the flight 2 days due to poor weather; however, the following day, the pilot attempted the visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions with mountain obscuration. Before departing on the flight, the pilot received three weather briefings and all three contained information regarding instrument flight rules conditions with mountain obscuration.
The pilot was receiving flight following services from air traffic control, while proceeding southeast, in clouds, below the minimum vectoring altitude, near mountainous terrain. The controller suggested a westbound turn for lower terrain and continued radar coverage. The airplane briefly turned to a westbound heading, then turned back to a southeast heading. About 4 miles later, the controller again advised the pilot that, if he continued on the present heading, radar coverage would be lost. The pilot asked again what heading he should fly and the controller responded westbound, to which the pilot responded, "westbound heading 270." Radar and radio contact were lost during the second westbound turn. The last radar target indicated an altitude of 3,500 ft msl and groundspeed of 218 knots about 1,000 ft from the accident site, which was located at an elevation about 2,625 ft msl.
Examination of the accident site revealed a 60-ft debris path on a 265° course through trees, consistent with a 45° nose-down attitude at impact. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot had entered clouds and was trying to fly clear of clouds. The conditions were conducive to the development of spatial disorientation; however, the extent to which spatial disorientation played a role could not be determined as the descent could have also been the result of an uncoordinated turn or distraction.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during a turn.
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All Comments (14)
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Kudos to ATC who did everything he could to help. Shouldn't ignore that.
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This guy was instrument rated and just the day before he successfully completed examinations for Commercial Pilot license and the Certified Flight Instructor rating. How did the flight go wrong? Interesting that his examiner recommended not doing the flight home for two days due to wx. Did the examiner believe the pilot was not actually proficient?
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The controller warned the pilot multiple times about mountainous terrain. He tried.
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Instrument rated pilot. Chose to scud run instead of file or get a pop up IFR. I'd be curious what the OATs were like at that time, altitude and location. Late May... but pretty far North. Suppose that is my best guess; afraid to fly into a freezing cloud layer with no way to deal with icing. Just park the darn thing and live another day.
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Pilot flying beyond their training; ALWAYS ENDS IN DISASTER!
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It is really mind blowing how some pilots become complacent and lack required situational awareness while in the cockpit, really scary.
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This controller did a A plus’s job. Unfortunately the pilot did not.
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High and in and out of clouds is the absolute worst way to fly marginal VFR. Had he stayed down low where he could see well he could have seen that he could not make his destination and turned back. At worst, we can see that landing off field may now be the only stay alive option. To fly IMC comfortably we must have confidence in our ability to fly IMC comfortably.
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Why did he go VFR, and why did the DPE recommend he delay the flight when he was IFR rated? It was in mid May so probably not an icing issue, or was it? I fly through this area and prefer to go IFR unless it's severe clear and I want to sight-see a bit. Something doesn't add up here.
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Great job on the map 👍 Don't recall this one. RIP. Lack of instrument currency was the cause? He was an instrument rated CFI. Therefore, spatial disorientation should not have happened.
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Very unexpected.
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A commercial license and instructor rating does not equal an instrument rating. There are tons of instructors and commercial guys without instrument ratings, float guys in Alaska, crop dusters, helicopter pilots, etc. This guy was not instrument rated. That is why the examiner suggested he wait for VFR conditions. Duh!
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IT WAS ALL THE CONTROLLERS FAULT....
