IMC Emergencies

We were in IMC at 4000 feet, on a vector for the VOR-A approach at the Wichita, Kan., Colonel James Jabara Airport. The airplane was an A36 Bonanza and I was in the instructors seat on the last approach of a day-long training session. This was in the era before GPS, long before iPads and moving-map handhelds, and the owner of this then-well-equipped 36 had ignored the short-lived Loran phase. So we were eastbound on a long downwind, and crabbing into a northerly wind before intercepting the westbound final approach course before circling to Jabaras north/south runway.

Tom Turner

Monday, August 20, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

During an IMC emergency, prioritize "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate," always maintaining pilot-in-command authority.
Actively leverage ATC as a vital resource by clearly declaring your emergency, detailing lost capabilities, requesting broad information (e.g., conditions at various airports), and stating your intended actions without delegating decision-making.
Prepare thoroughly by understanding the distinction between emergencies (requiring memorized actions) and abnormals (allowing checklist use), and ensure all backup equipment is readily accessible and practiced.

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We were in IMC at 4000 feet, on a vector for the VOR-A approach at the Wichita, Kan., Colonel James Jabara Airport. The airplane was an A36 Bonanza and I was in the instructor’s seat on the last approach of a day-long training session. This was in the era before GPS, long before iPads and moving-map handhelds, and the owner of this then-well-equipped 36 had ignored the short-lived Loran phase. So we were eastbound on a long downwind, and crabbing into a northerly wind before intercepting the westbound final approach course before circling to Jabara’s north/south runway.