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Why VFR pilots NEVER should fly into IMC!!

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I assume that you guys are referring to the pilot, not Wally ;)

All jokes aside, that clip is one of the most sobering things that I've heard. Definately a good training tool - for all pilots, including "confident" students..
 
That gave me the chills when I heard it earlier this year when it was released, and it just gave me chills again. There are a couple recordings (released by NATCA over the summer I think) that had a similar effect--one was a Cirrus that narrowly avoided a CFIT accident as I recall. Anyone have a link to those?

Peter
 
The guy is a total tool and shouldn't be flying.


IM ROLLING, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


Hey, I'm straight and level! I'm in complete IFR............derrrr
 
At one time the controller sad, set squack to 7700 if you have a transponder..... but why is that so importand. i assume there are more importand things to do, like flying the plane and keep it level and straid.

ps. Sorry for possible grammer mistakes, I am just a boy from Holland
 
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

Metro752 said:
IM ROLLING, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Yeah, that helps :erm: ! So does screaming mayday a thousands times while the briefer is trying to help. This guy needed to remain calm. He only made his situation worse.

Good work on the part of FSS and Center. :beer:



eP.
 
I'd never heard that before, and nearly flipped out when I heard the callsign:

N9#15 Lima

Couldn't hear the second digit until later, as the controller kept calling him "one five Lima". I thought it was my own beloved Grumman AA-1B, N9915 Lima, sold 18 years ago. Part of me felt sypathy for the dude, but part of me was saying "You idiot, don't bust up that neat little airplane. WTF are you doing in IMC in a VFR airplane?"

I'm amazed he keyed the mike while spiralling out of control. Glad he made it, and good job by the controller.
 
You guys that are so quick to critique this pilot's frantic radio calls, I've just got one question for you... HAVE YOU ever been there?? IF not, then how the heck do you know that you wouldnt act the same way? This guy's a non instrument rated private pilot, with probably not too many hours, has just flown into IMC, has tried to turn around and in doing so, has lost control of his aircraft and entered a stall/spin condition, steep spiral, or rolled inverted. If you'll notice in thelast recording, he states he saw a tower go by on his left side, so you know he was VERY low when that happened. He thinks he's going to die, so I can understand why he's screaming into the mic at first. Inexperience and sheer terror took over when what he really needed to do was get on the guages and fly the airplane, THEN make a radio call. Yeah, this was a bone headed mistake that could have been prevented, but regardless, if you havent been in a position like that, dont judge. The guy was probably about 10 seconds away from becoming another FAA statistic, and he knew it. Probably the HARDEST and best lesson he will EVER learn. I'm just curious how many of you that are quick to ridicule this guy's reactions have ever been faced with a REAL life or death emergency. Sitting here on an internet message board and SAYING how you'd react is a whole different ballgame than actually facing it in real life.
 
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Yeah, that recording does sound kind of scary. Sometimes its necessary to consciously act calm and slow down. Panicing is probably the worst thing you can do at that point. Your judgment and ability to follow directions goes south.

I'm wondering what the conditions were that led up to this stumble into IMC.
 
Yeah, I was kinda wondering about the conditions prior to the incident myself. I'm thinkin' he probably took off and was flying in marginal conditions to begin with, and just got closed in.
 
Menno Mulder said:
At one time the controller sad, set squack to 7700 if you have a transponder..... but why is that so importand. i assume there are more importand things to do, like flying the plane and keep it level and straid.

ps. Sorry for possible grammer mistakes, I am just a boy from Holland

To answer your question about "squawking 7700", it makes it much easier for the Center controller to find the correct airplane. Of course airplane control comes first.

DC
 
oke thank you !
 
miles otoole said:
The controllers keep saying he's in IFR. What does this mean?

Better yet, what's a "VFR PILOT"? I never heard of a VFR pilot's certificate.
 
FN FAL said:
Better yet, what's a "VFR PILOT"? I never heard of a VFR pilot's certificate.

Oh puh-leese, if you don't know what he means you're pretty dense. I'm sure "VFR Pilot" is a lot quicker to say than "Non-instrument rated pilot".

Also, its "KWYJIBO"

-drinkduff
 
Ah, the good ole 9815L tape, the pilot was a decent pilot just not in this case. He has been around the Chicago area for a while now, the 172 comes into PWK all the time and is based out of westosha. I let all of my new private pilots listen to this tape, actually I make all of them listen to this.
 
drinkduff77 said:
Oh puh-leese, if you don't know what he means you're pretty dense. I'm sure "VFR Pilot" is a lot quicker to say than "Non-instrument rated pilot".

Also, its "KWYJIBO"

-drinkduff
I don't care what non-certificated pilots call me, when I can't hear what they are saying.
 
I've heard a real one over NC about 10 years ago. It's a horrible feeling knowing some guy got in way over his abilty and has a high probability of dying. The one I heard was similar, the guy was trying to be calm, but he was also begging the controller to help him to find clear air. We got a freq change and didn't hear the outcome, but I later heard he ended up a fatality near RDU.
 
First time I ever entered IMC it was turbulent all the way down to breaking out about 700' agl to land. It was about 10 mins. of hell trying to stay on the localizer then glideslope. Had virtigo, the leans and all the panik associated with it (without saying a word - instructor was on board). After that experience every time I was back in choppy IMC during my instrument training I was fine. I guess it's one of those things, when your body senses something strange it's never felt before, a bad kind of chain reaction starts. I think I know exactly how that guy felt. Spacial disorientation was so much more intense then I could have imagined it to be. I suggest to my private students that if they really want to be a "safe" pilot than they must get instrument rated.
 
Menno Mulder said:
At one time the controller sad, set squack to 7700 if you have a transponder..... but why is that so importand. i assume there are more importand things to do, like flying the plane and keep it level and straid.

ps. Sorry for possible grammer mistakes, I am just a boy from Holland

Code 7700 on the transponder is the emergency code universally. All of the radar coverage stations across the US are set so that if they ever pickup a code 7700, bells and whistles will go off. That will also allow that particular radar center to be able to get a hold of that location and send out search and rescue to that position.
 
miles otoole said:
The controllers keep saying he's in IFR. What does this mean?

IFR = Instrument Flight rules

Usually when they refer to "instrument conditions" it means that they are in the clouds and have no visual reference to what attitude/position the aircraft is in. That's when the pilot has to rely on their instruments 100%. If they are only trained to use visual reference, then a lot of times they are screwed since they get disoriented REALLY fast.
 

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