The non-instrument-rated private pilot reported that, while en route, he encountered clouds about 2,200′ above ground level (agl). He descended to 2,100′ agl to try to get out of the clouds, but he still could not see outside.
He decided not to climb or contact air traffic control.
The Piper PA-28 hit a tree-covered mountain ridge near Carpinteria, California, and came to rest upright with its left wing bent aft. The pilot was seriously injured in the crash.
The pilot reported no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
NTSB Identification: WPR17LA124
This June 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I’ve never heard of a VFR into IMC crash that the pilot or pax survive. Wow. He’s lucky to be alive. Guess it’s because he was so close to the trees and rocks in the clouds that he didn’t have very far to fall into them.
After reading the accident report in the docket, I have a different opinion on this crash.
The pilot was a low time, foreign student , holding a SEL cert., flying with an aviation college.
So, I fault the college instructors for inadequate prep , in advising this pilot on route and monitoring the local weather.
The west coast weather can change in a hour from severe clear to 1,000 ocst.
This pilot should have not been flying over the coast mountain range with the ceiling 2,000 ft below the ridge tops.!
I wouldn’t fly VFR during IMC if you were gonna shoot me.
Anyone who has flown the west coast is aware of ‘June Gloom’, morning and afternoon low clouds and fog, from the marine influence.
This was yet another ‘stupid pilot trick’.
I’ve flown this area for years and getting over the 4,500 ft coast range to get inland requires the clear skies of late morning to mid-day.
Then there is the mountain wave, if there is a wind from the N, NE, which can cause a 500-1,000 fpm downdraft on the lee side.
This pilot should have been over the coast were there is nothing to hit, even at 1,000 ft..
ADS-B is all about greater utilization of GPS. In the airliners I flew we had a TCAS system for safety regarding collisions, and also GPWS which was the ground radar to give warning of impending collision with a ground obstacle.
As I understand it ADS-B is a tool for ATC and if one goes with rest of the system (not required) it would give you a visual (screen)on nearby traffic.
An excellent source of positional awareness and terrain awareness (notice I said, a source – not the primary, in order keep the FAA happy), is ForeFlight “type” of technologies (not sourcing or supporting ForeFlight – just using it as a general reference). These lower cost safety awareness devices joined with a Stratus or other device offer a true secondary awareness system.
Does anybody else think that instead of ads- b, GA planes should be equipped with terrain gps?
Seems like it would be a better cost/benefit
A tablet running the free Avare moving map software would provide vfr sectional charts and ifr charts..
A refurb Nexus , 7 in tablet can be had for $60… So, no excuses for losing situational awareness.
There are also a number of vor’s along the coast, assuming pilots know how to use this ‘old’ technology.?