Features

While it would be foolhardy to attempt a challenging back-country landing if your only recent experience involves shooting ILSes, the same cannot be said for low-level maneuvering: Its always a bad idea. In fact, low-level maneuvering, according to AOPA Air Safety Institutes 23rd Joseph T. Nall Report, a regular look-see at general aviation accidents, is one of the two leading causes of pilot-related fatalities.

Consider what it takes for the FAA to deem one aircraft type so, well, finicky, for lack of a better word, that it warrants its own special federal aviation regulation setting out specific training requirements for its pilots. Part of the answer is reflected in the image above, of an MU-2s upper wing surface. Note the multiple-slotted Fowler flap. One can just make out the spoiler used for roll control.

Mitsubishis MU-2 twin turboprop gained FAA type certification in 1965. Initial U.S. production and sales were handled through an arrangement with Mooney Aircraft from a facility in San Angelo, Texas. By 1969, Mooney had fallen on hard times-a familiar theme for the company-and Mitsubishi stepped in to continue production and support. Worldwide production of new airplanes ended in the 1980s, with more than 750 copies having been built.

On his first ILS approach, the pilot initially flew through the localizer. The pilot then reestablished the airplane on the final approach course, but about 500 feet too high. He executed a missed approach and received radar vectors for another approach. The airplane was inbound on the second approach when a witness saw the airplane about 150 feet agl in about a 60-degree nose-low attitude with about an 80-degree right bank angle. Probable Cause: The pilots failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the instrument approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

They go by different nicknames-George and Otto probably are the most popular-and have become an integral part of even a basic IFR platforms standard equipment, especially when flown single-pilot. And because the latest high-tech versions on the market can do just about anything for you except eliminate a potty stop, theyve proliferated throughout all segments of the general aviation fleet. They, of course, are autopilots-electromechanical systems used to control an aircraft, and available in a wide variety of configurations and capabilities from simple wing-levelers to full-blown flight directors rivaling the modern transport jet you rode in last week.

I admit I am a bit of an adventure-seeker. It may be just one big rationalization, but I want to defend the concept of aviation adventure-seeking, at least to a degree. For example, after watching a particularly challenging backcountry landing video found online, I mused over the many comments it drew, typically along the lines of Not for me, No way, and Crazy. My reaction-and I was not alone-was, I want to do that. But I also want to balance that activity with a healthy does of risk management and accident prevention, i.e., the mission of this magazine.

In many conversations with instrument instructors, Ive noted a common concern about the way many pilots conclude practice precision approaches (ILS or GPS LPV) under the hood: They do a great job of keeping the needles near the center as decision altitude nears; airspeed, descent rate and heading all would be appropriate. But when the hood came off at DA and the pilot spotted the runway, it was Katie bar the door. What happened next can be summarized as a whirlwind of activity in the left seat as the power was yanked back, flap deflection increased and a dive for the runway threshold commenced. It was as if there were some sort of prize for landing short.

Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents

On a recent trip to Richland, Wash. (KRLD), my destination was forecast to have ceilings at 900 feet at the time of my arrival. That is doable IFR for me if there is no ice. During my TAF trend analysis, I saw that both Moses Lake, Wash. (KMWH), and Pendleton, Ore. (KPDT), had TAFs predicting VFR conditions, making them legal IFR alternates. I chose Pendleton because it was more convenient.

Yes, Virginia, way back when Loran was a thing, there were Flight Service Stations (FSS) with trained weather observers scattered throughout the U.S. When you called for a weather briefing, you actually talked to someone with forensic knowledge about the local weather. Not only could they interpret the aviation forecast products for you, they could put down the phone and walk outside, and tell you if it was raining. They had the kind of information that doesnt make it into forecasting products.