IMC Emergencies

We were in IMC at 4000 feet, on a vector for the VOR-A approach at the Wichita, Kan., Colonel James Jabara Airport. The airplane was an A36 Bonanza and I was in the instructors seat on the last approach of a day-long training session. This was in the era before GPS, long before iPads and moving-map handhelds, and the owner of this then-well-equipped 36 had ignored the short-lived Loran phase. So we were eastbound on a long downwind, and crabbing into a northerly wind before intercepting the westbound final approach course before circling to Jabaras north/south runway.

Tom Turner

Monday, August 20, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Prioritize "Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate" during emergencies in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), focusing first on aircraft control, then plotting a course for mitigation, and finally effective communication.
The pilot remains the ultimate decision-maker (pilot-in-command) during an emergency, utilizing Air Traffic Control (ATC) as a valuable resource for information and assistance, but not delegating command.
Effective emergency preparedness includes distinguishing between abnormal and emergency procedures, memorizing critical immediate actions, and ensuring backup equipment is accessible, powered, and practiced for use.

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We were in IMC at 4000 feet, on a vector for the VOR-A approach at the Wichita, Kan., Colonel James Jabara Airport. The airplane was an A36 Bonanza and I was in the instructor’s seat on the last approach of a day-long training session. This was in the era before GPS, long before iPads and moving-map handhelds, and the owner of this then-well-equipped 36 had ignored the short-lived Loran phase. So we were eastbound on a long downwind, and crabbing into a northerly wind before intercepting the westbound final approach course before circling to Jabara’s north/south runway.