A crash occurring during an instrument approach almost always happens because the airplane descends below the published minimum altitude. Its easy for any pilot to say, “Id never do that,” and dismiss this brand of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) as a non-hazard…at least for ourselves. 288
Ducking Under
A crash occurring during an instrument approach almost always happens because the airplane descends below the published minimum altitude. Its easy for any pilot to say, "Id never do that," and dismiss this brand of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) as a non-hazard...at least for ourselves. True, evidence suggests that some "ducking under" decision height, decision altitude or the minimum descent altitude is intentional-the pilot knowingly flies "just a little bit lower" to try to find the runway in the murk. But ducking under is not always intentional-a conscientious pilot may be susceptible to ducking under in some circumstances. The question is, how can we avoid the traps?
Key Takeaways:
- Crashes during instrument approaches, often termed "ducking under," primarily occur due to descending below minimum altitudes, stemming from external pressures, visual confusion, cumulative minor errors, or intentional risk-taking.
- Pilots must assert command authority against passenger pressure, conduct thorough approach briefings including visual cues, and strictly adhere to instrument guidance to prevent dangerous descents.
- Preventing unintentional "ducking under" requires meticulous attention to detail, such as accurate altimeter settings, precise glideslope control, and recognizing the effects of fatigue or misidentifying non-runway lights.
- While intentional risk-taking is challenging to eradicate culturally, individual pilots must commit to avoiding it and fostering a strong safety attitude among their students and peers.
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