At the time of the accident, the automated METAR reported quarter-mile visibility and a 200-foot overcast ceiling. [Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
A fatal accident occurred when an instrument-rated pilot, flying VFR, attempted to land his Bonanza at an airport blanketed in heavy fog, well below IFR minimums.
The pilot had a documented history of successfully performing "wildcatting" (improvised and illegal) approaches below minimums at this specific airport, fostering a dangerous overconfidence in his ability to flout regulations.
During his third landing attempt in poor visibility, he descended below the runway elevation, striking a cliff short of the threshold, with the NTSB citing VFR flight into IMC and a "hazardous anti-authority attitude" as probable causes.
In days of yore, the phrase “a doctor in a Bonanza” referred sarcastically to a pilot of unwarranted arrogance. But I’m dating myself. Perhaps the equivalent today is a hedge fund manager in a TBM.
In this case, however, it really was a doctor, and it really was a Bonanza.
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Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.
