Twenty-five years ago, a Seattle-area pilot tried to do his mother a favor. He would take her to visit a friend on the other side of the Cascades. Their route would go through the Snoqualmie Pass, which, on the day of the trip, was unfortunately beset by fog and low-lying clouds. The pilot was instrument-rated, but the rented Cessna 152 he was flying was not instrument-equipped. He followed Interstate 90. At a certain point, fog blocked the way, and the pilot decided to turn back. In the turn, he inadvertently flew into cloud, clipped a tree and crashed. Mother and son died together.
Aftermath: Mountain, Cloud, Highway
Key Takeaways:
- The article compares the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash to a fatal Cessna accident 25 years prior, both involving pilots attempting visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- Both incidents underscore the extreme danger of VFR pilots continuing into low visibility and clouds, highlighting the challenges of turning back and the risks of disorientation.
- For the Bryant crash, preliminary NTSB findings indicate an unexpected left bank and steep descent during a climb attempt, strongly suggesting spatial disorientation despite the pilot's extensive experience and instrument rating.
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