Eric Basile - ATP, CFII, MEI FAASTeam Lead Representative Surviving Inadvertent Flight into IMC Surviving Inadvertent Flight into IMC

What We Will Cover Why this subject is important! Spatial Disorientation Preflight/Weather Planning 5 C’s – Asking for Help Practice!

December 17, 2003: Brooklyn, IA Enroute PWK-IKV PA with 4 persons on board impacts a cornfield. All on board are killed. Weather at Newton, IA at the time of the accident: winds visibility 2 statute miles, light snow, overcast 700 feet, temperature 1, dewpoint 0 Could this happen to you? The flight was operating under VFR, and no flight plan was filed.

Statistics VFR into IMC is #1 cause of all weather related accidents Averaging 36 accidents/year (14% of all fatal accidents!) Rate and severity have not changed much since the 1970’s, nor have the causal factors

Statistics are instrument rated are pilots with more than 1,000 hours 27% 44%

Statistics The average person involved in a fatal spatial disorientation accident is a 30 year old male with 10 years and 1500 hours of flying experience

Statistics

Common Contributing Factors Improper judgment of deteriorating weather Underestimating/overconfidence associated with flight into adverse conditions Social pressures affecting decision making

Common Contributing Factors Decision framing Entrapment bias Inadequate gathering of weather information prior to the flight Night or mountainous terrain

“The Expectation of Success”

2 recent crashes of advanced Cirrus aircraft 1 operated as VFR, 1 as IFR Over-reliance on technology? Spatial disorientation suspected Failures in training? Influence of Technology?

Spatial Disorientation Visual Vestibular Proprioceptive

Spatial Disorientation

90% of our spatial orientation is derived from visual inputs No amount of training or practice can allow us to correctly interpret erroneous vestibular sensations!!!

Learn to use flight instruments to compensate for absent visual cues outside the aircraft! Stay out of conditions that deprive us of adequate visibility or… SO…..WE CAN: Spatial Disorientation

Audio Recording April 26, 2003 Cessna hour pilot VFR from Westosha, WI to St. Joseph, MO

Flight Planning Considerations

Weather accidents almost always occur on cross-country trips In many cases, the pilot stops short of destination for weather or repairs and then surprisingly continues Diversion planning

Constantly evaluate conditions Personal minimums – FAA and AOPA Making a no-go decision is typically easier than discontinuing a flight — especially as you get closer to your destination. How do you know when the conditions are sinking to the point where you need to turn around? Flight Planning Considerations

KNOW YOUR TERRAIN!

Stress Denial Confusion/Inactivity Anger Challenge

Stress Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook

Stress Source: FAA Instrument Flying Handbook

Maintaining control in emergency instrument conditions is as much a matter of the MIND as it is of SKILL! Suggest you consider the Air Force’s philosophy: “I will maintain aircraft control, analyze the situation and take appropriate action, and land as soon as conditions permit.” DON’T PANIC

Basic Instrument Techniques

U of I study – average life expectancy of non-instrument rated pilot in IMC is 178 seconds Let go of the controls – avoid the “grab and grip” reflex Attitude changes - smooth and small Relax, don’t try to do too much

Communicating The 5 C’s Climb Communicate Confess Comply Conserve

Under periods of high stress… We do not rise to the occasion – but instead sink to the level of our proficiency! Under periods of high stress… We do not rise to the occasion – but instead sink to the level of our proficiency! Therefore, the importance of instrument training cannot be emphasized strongly enough!! PRACTICE!!!

How much hood time have you had in the past 2 years? Source: AOPA Air Safety Foundation PRACTICE!!!

Hazardous Training? Train to AVOID, not to HANDLE NASA Study – new Private Pilots 21.7% say they would feel more confident AND comfortable 68.1% say they would feel more confident but NOT comfortable “Scared straight” doesn’t work

What you can do starting today! Participate in FAA’s Pilot Proficiency Program (WINGS) Seek out periodic hood training and/or training in marginal weather conditions Pursue an instrument rating If instrument rated, keep current!

Final thoughts… Obtain weather from all available sources prior to the flight Know the tools you can use to update weather information in flight Establish SOLID personal minimums Learn to interpret in-flight weather cues and deteriorating visibility Separate the mission from the goal

MORE INFORMATION…. IFR For VFR Pilots – Richard L. Taylor FAA Safety Publications Civil Aerospace Medical Institute AOPA Air Safety Foundation

Questions??

Thanks for coming!