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 resulting from descending below minimum altitudes ("ducking under") during instrument approaches are often caused by external pressures, misidentification of visual cues, or cumulative minor errors, not solely intentional actions.
• Pilots must assert command authority, educate passengers on safe expectations, and resist pressures that compromise flight safety to prevent such accidents.
• Preventative measures include rigorous approach briefings, precise glideslope control, accurate altimeter settings, and a clear understanding of approach and runway lighting.
• While intentional "ducking under" exists, the majority of these incidents arise from preventable unintentional factors, allowing pilots to actively improve safety through discipline and adherence to procedures.

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