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 lightning reported at the airport, intending to remain in the traffic pattern.
The weather rapidly deteriorated with heavy rain, windshear, and hail, approaching faster than anticipated and preventing a safe landing.
During a go-around attempt to escape the severe weather, the aircraft encountered zero visibility at low altitude and impacted a plowed field, resulting in minor injuries.
The probable cause of the accident was the flight instructor's improper decision to depart in rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

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Cessna 162

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