Pilot Proficiency

On the Record: Cessna 162

Thursday, January 05, 2017 at 10:50 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A flight instructor departed for an instructional flight in a Cessna 162 despite known thunderstorms and reported lightning, planning to remain in the traffic pattern.
The weather conditions deteriorated rapidly during the flight, with heavy rain, windshear, and hail approaching the airport much faster than anticipated.
While attempting a go-around and turning away from the storm at a low altitude, the aircraft encountered severe visibility reduction and heavy precipitation, subsequently impacting a plowed field.
The probable cause was attributed to the flight instructor’s improper decision to depart on a local instructional flight into rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

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Cessna 162

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