IFR Tip: Dont Stop Climbing

On Nov. 6, 2007, a King Air crashed seconds after a low-visibility takeoff from 26L at Chino, Calif., (KCNO). The NTSBs typically terse probable cause determination of the accident-... the pilots failure to maintain a positive climb rate during an instrument takeoff ...-provides few clues as to what led the 3100-hour commercial pilot to mow the tops of nearby trees on his brief climb-out.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A King Air crashed shortly after a low-visibility instrument takeoff due to the pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate, despite no evidence of mechanical failure.
Contributing factors included 1/4-mile visibility and a 100-foot ceiling, along with the pilot's limited recent instrument flight experience.
The aircraft climbed only a few hundred feet before descending and veering off course from the runway track.
The article emphasizes the critical challenge of transitioning to instrument flight immediately after takeoff in low visibility, recommending intense focus on establishing climb and track.

See a mistake? Contact us.

On Nov. 6, 2007, a King Air crashed seconds after a low-visibility takeoff from 26L at Chino, Calif., (KCNO). The NTSB’s typically terse probable cause determination of the accident—”… the pilot’s failure to maintain a positive climb rate during an instrument takeoff …”—provides few clues as to what led the 3100-hour commercial pilot to mow the tops of nearby trees on his brief climb-out.

A recovered data chip shows the aircraft climbed no more than a few hundred feet before descending, with no evidence of engine or flight control system failure. At impact, however, the plane had veered to a 300-degree ground track from that of the departure Runway 26L.