UK pilot dead in Switzerland plane crash – Oct 2011

Here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXzYZjpoz_E

Moggy

Agreed, Rob. There are exceptions to most/every rule. I think someone who is reasonably competent and in practice can fly in IMC without much trouble. I still do some instructing on the side and I do alot of club check outs and by-yearly SEP flights and the worst pilots who come through the door are “generally” (note: generally) those who have had their licenses for years and years, and airline pilots. The bottom line is that we are, generally speaking a bunch of individuals without the inherent want to want to practice any form of emergency/instrument flights. There could be several factors behind this, one is most certainly the astronomical costs of hiring out club aircraft.

The “experts” say if the average PPL holder enters cloud it’ll be 15 seconds before he/she has lost control.

I think this is an urban legend that grew up from a magazine article which related the forty seconds between entering cloud and hitting the ground in an aircraft without a blind-flying panel. Very rare to encounter one of those these days.

Anyhow I am living proof that a student PPL on a solo qualifying cross country can fly for a prolonged period full IMC in the middle of a snowstorm and survive. 🙂

Rob P

The “experts” say if the average PPL holder enters cloud it’ll be 15 seconds before he/she has lost control. (I can’t remember where I heard this so I have no reference) This is a chilling report in which I agree with Rob’s observations and interpretations of the AAIB report. General Aviation is a great and rewarding hobby that the vast majority can enjoy safely throughout their lives, but it’s very easy to lose sight of the fact that whilst it is enjoyable and rewarding, if you mess with it, it will bite you, and it will bite you very very hard indeed.

Email account has been disabled as is the case with Yahoo if you don’t use the account within a period of time.

I sent him an email. Let’s see if he replies.

Certainly agree with his Muslim comments, wonder if anyone would reply if they wrote to his contact address? :dev2:

That is weird, two years later his web page is still going.

No, a HUD wouldn’t help. You have to condition the senses to trust the instruments and ignore bodily sensations. It takes quite a lot of practice.

And this, uncannily, is the same pilot.

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/may_2011/pierre_robin_r2160_alpha_sport__g_sack.cfm

Those skilled in interpreting AAIB speak will reach the obvious conclusion that this guy should never again have been allowed near an aircraft, at least not one that carried passengers.

Moggy

Rather spookily, his web page is still live

http://sipan50.tripod.com/id7.html

Moggy

You could probably knock one up for a few hundred quid. Getting the CAA to approve it for a certificated aircraft would cost considerably more than the worth of several Cherokee 140 – and you still won’t overcome the problem of ‘the leans’ where the pilot is overwhelmingly disbelieving of what his instruments are telliong him plainly.

Moggy

Why don’t they fit head up displays in civil aircraft?
It’s not an expensive thing to do these days with technology. Perhaps horizon, climb and speed at a minimum.
Would that help with disorientation?

I use my compulsory instructor hour every two years for just such practice. An hour, under foggles, in my own aircraft, partial panel and unusual attitudes. One day it may save my life. Certainly more point than some mini-gft cobbled together by an instructor who only half understands the rules.

Mogy

The picture on the BBC website (if it is not a file photo) indicates that the plane hit the ground at high speed.

Thanks for the link Moggy! Looks like a graveyard spiral. My recommendation to any recreational pilot is to do 20 hours of instrument flying with an instructor after obtaining a PPL. This should not be an invitation to attempt flight into IMC but can be useful to execute a 180 deg turn to get out of trouble if they inadvertently do enter IMC.

Thanks for the update and conclusion to this sad accident.

That is a chilling read! Spatial disorientation catches out another pilot 🙁

The Swiss report – chilling reading

http://www.sust.admin.ch/pdfs/AV-berichte//2175_e.pdf

Moggy

I believe this is the incident that is connected. 🙁

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/may_2011/pierre_robin_r2160_alpha_sport__g_sack.cfm

This would appear to be the deceased pilot, filming himself.

http://www.youtube.com/user/2009sipan#p/u/1/v7blaqemIPo

For a minute I thought you meant the Coventry pilot who may have had a water-related accident