. ASN states that weather may have been a factor.
Hope so too. Apparently people could hear the engine throttling and the plane was seen to turn back. The fact that some people saw it tells me the conditions weren't that bad
The weather was no where near atrocious, and around here the morning layer is usually extremely thin, I've taken off in similar conditions. And usually you have many VFR airports either just east, north, or south. Unfortunately around here you have very limited options if you have a power failure, regardless of the conditions. But, undoubtedly, weather does add to the load factor should things hit the fan
According to that link the plane held a PPL with a IFR ticket, not seeing a pending IFR flight plan in flight aware, though it does look like his last flight might have involved some practice approaches or something, based on the tracks.
James- I'm telling you that sometimes these flights do NOT show up in the system. I cannot control how a controller enters a flight.
Totally, I agree. I guess I just hate the idea of an IMC departure being "no where near safe" <- isn't that why we got our IR tickets so we can fly like the pros, or at least not have to cancel a flight for a mundane overcast layer?
But MYF is a stone's throw away and has the proper ILS precision approach.. so there's that if you must get back on the ground ASAP. It won't help you in an engine failure... but then again even if SEE had a precision approach it still won't help you in an engine failure
I personally haven't done the VFR on top thing for that very reason. I'd rather be prepared to fly the whole flight "in the system" .. at that point the view out the window really doesn't matter one way or the other. But maybe I'm too green still in my sub 300 hr flying life to take too many risks
Fatal plane crash to farting hippos........ what a thread twist...
And the clearance goes:
It's horrifying to think that two people may have died because of this. But perhaps if the guy wasn't very proficient and was trying to get some practice approaches in he just got too slow and stalled while leveling out during one of the step downs? Maybe he was fixated on the other instruments and lost track of his speed.. maybe after TOMTY he dipped below 1,440 and was fixated on keeping his altitude or getting back up to circling mins? Maybe he forgot to do his PFGUMPS and the prop wasn't set right. The video sure makes it look like this was a stall and not weather related
I agree. That's why I've never done one. I like to get the whole thing prepped out up front and just cruise in the system. If it's obviously VFR where I am and where I am going I can always cancel, but honestly, with all the BRAVO around here it is just easier to stay IFR.
You *shouldn't* be. But psychologically if I'm expecting to pop out at 4K and be in the clean and I get there and it is still IMC and then the guy starts reading off a full route clearance to me it will be difficult to not let that turn into a panic situation. But like you said, that comes back to psychological proficiency. If I'm going to go through the mental prep of prepping the whole flight to be IMC then why not just file. You are not wrong, tons of people around here do the pop up thing. I just don't think I'm there yet..
That is totally not true.
Very true. TEC is pretty much SOP in SoCal
I guess my point was that excluding a serious emergency like a fire or engine out you have options at Borrego Springs, French Valley, Bermuda Dunes, Palm Springs, Riverside, etc. Even with a total electric failure I'll take my chances VFR to Borrego then the soup.
