Accident Case Study: VFR into IMC
Why Aviation Stack Exchange recommends it
Aviation Stack Exchange users link it as a concrete example of how VFR-into-IMC accidents unfold when the question is about getting out of or through cloud without instrument training.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2017 to 2023.
What it is
An Air Safety Institute case study that re-creates a real fatal accident in which a VFR-only pilot flew into instrument meteorological conditions, then walks through the decisions that led to it. It was adapted from a 2008 Flash-based online course and runs about 16 minutes.
What people said
Cites Harper - Reinstate Monica · 2017-11 · Aviation Stack Exchange · on “If unexpectedly in IMC, does it help to climb into clouds to get on radar?”
I gather that in the flatlands, probably not. But here is a tragic accident [this video] where a VFR-only pilot attempted to navigate steep mountain passes in Utah (Evanston, Wyoming west to Coalville, Utah, and south on to Heber City). The clouds were reported to be closing in, but he wanted to go see for himself, and promised ATC he would quit and go back "if" (when) visibility got too bad. He was too successful following the freeways, and got cocky. Made his turnaround decision too late, turned around successfully, and headed back out the way he came - but collided with terrain nonetheless. Reports compared with maps make it sound like he got turned around alright using the sky over a reservoi
Cites bclarkreston · 2019-07 · Aviation Stack Exchange · on “Would the benign spiral maneuver be one alternative to dealing with being "stuck above" or inside a cloud?”
Recently I provided an alternate answer [LINK] to a question involving "hands off" recovery techniques. In this I briefly illustrated the benign spiral maneuver. For completeness I will reiterate what I said in that answer: This (benign spiral) maneuver is considered to be the safest way of recovering in a glider when one has found themselves above a hole-free cloud layer or inside a cloud. My club teaches this maneuver as part of initial glider pilot training, though it is not (yet) part of the US FAA Glider Practical Test Standards [LINK] . The steps [LINK] my club recommends are: Full spoilers Trim slightly aft (Other references suggest 1.5 times the stall speed) Hands off stick Feet off
Cites Cloud · 2023-08 · Aviation Stack Exchange · on “What's the best way to get through clouds when not instrument rated?”
The obvious answer to this is... don't go into clouds. But if you are flying among scattered or broken clouds and you go up above them, then when you reach your destination it's overcast and there is no way down - what is the safest way to descend through them? I asked this at my club and someone suggested side slipping would be the best approach as you get through quickly and are less likely to experience unusual attitudes due to not pitching as much. Please also assume there are no IMC instruments on board, i.e. no artificial horizon etc. For reference, this happens a lot, like here. [this video]