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:

In an emergency in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), pilots must prioritize "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate" in that order, focusing first on flying the aircraft, then navigating to safety, and finally communicating with Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Pilots must be proactively prepared by having backup equipment readily accessible and practiced, understanding the distinction between immediate emergency procedures and checklist-driven abnormal procedures, and always researching broader alternate airport conditions.
While ATC is a valuable resource for information and assistance, the pilot remains the ultimate authority, declaring emergencies, stating intentions, and making critical decisions for the aircraft's safety rather than delegating command.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.