The non-instrument-rated private pilot and one passenger departed on a personal cross-country visual flight rules flight in dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) that included 1-1/2 statute miles visibility in mist and an overcast cloud layer 200 feet above ground level.
The pilot did not obtain an official weather briefing before departing on the flight, and what preflight weather information he may have obtained could not be determined.
Onboard data indicated that the PA-32R departed the airport in Lincolnton, N.C., entered a climbing left turn to a downwind leg for the runway, and about a minute after takeoff, entered a rapid left turning descent that continued to ground contact. Both the pilot and passenger died in the crash.
Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The restricted visibility due to the dark night and instrument conditions was conducive to the development of spatial disorientation, and the airplane’s flight track was consistent with the known effects of spatial disorientation.
According to a family member, the pilot said he was going to attend an airshow and had planned to leave early in the morning for “a window of good weather.” Despite not being instrument rated, he likely chose to depart due to his self-induced pressure to complete the flight as planned. It is likely that his decision to depart into IMC resulted in his spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s intentional visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight as planned.
NTSB Identification: ERA18FA197
This July 2018 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.
Quite possibly he didn’t recognize the ceiling was there and flying into it he then made a spastic attempt to regain visibility.
I’ve had things not go as intended. Usually my resolution is to keep climbing, and in this case report the situation and get guidance. At 600hrs one should be capable of simply maintaining a vector and altitude to fly out of the IMC.
Training tells you to turn around and that’s what he did.
Same story, Umteenth verse. Common sense cannot be taught.
No matter what the experience level of any pilot you just can’t teach common sense. A sad day for loved ones.
So a 600+ hour Private Pilot without an Instrument rating takes off into night IFR conditions in a high performance aircraft. Is it any wonder that he ended up crashing while still insight of the airport? The last data point that was obtained from on-board equipment showed a sudden increase in altitude along with a precipitous drop in airspeed (near stall speed) so it looks like it might have ended in a spin. As others have mentioned it is just sad that he took the passenger with him, a person who probably had no good idea of the hazardous flight they were about to undertake. While attending the annual airshow at Oshkosh can be a great experience, it is not worth risking ones life.
What does 600 hours of log time have to do with the story? If anything it shows enough experience to know better than to take off at night into IMC…instrument rated or not if not being paid to do it.
What 600 hours shows is both enough experience to know better, but also enough experience to have complacency about his piloting skills, a belief that he’s better than he is.
In reality, night IFR takeoffs are tricky enough that any pilot, even very current IR, needs to be on his/her A game. For a non-IR pilot to attempt it is a form of suicide, and the real shame is that the unsuspecting passenger is a victim.
I feel terrible for the passenger – they probably had no clue or understanding of the poor decision that pilot was making. IMC is no joke, night time IMC and you better have your big boy pilot pants on.
Just a matter of time for this pilot before he bought the farm.