Readback: April 2019

Dan, we believe that the appeal of our annual SPT article (every January) is that most of us can find one or more examples cited in the article where we can easily imagine ourselves as the pilot, except we escaped unscathed. So, much of that laughter is laughing at ourselves. Statute of limitations or not, there are many antics I got away with that Ill never, ever admit to in public. Or, as an aerobatic pilot I once knew who couldnt avoid practicing low over somewhat populated areas used to like to say, I wasnt there. It wasnt me. You cant prove a thing! -FB

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A reader asserts that the "Day the Music Died" crash was caused by pilot limitations—lack of instrument training and unfamiliarity with the aircraft's gyroscope—rather than adverse weather conditions.
Another letter suggests that shops often decline complex work due to a shortage of experienced technicians with adequate problem-solving skills, rather than arbitrary "company policies."
The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is clarified as non-regulatory, though its "best practices" are considered crucial, with failure to follow them potentially leading to "Careless and Reckless" violations.
Paul Berge's "Stupid Pilot Tricks" articles provoke mixed reactions, with some readers finding them amusing and valuable for safety lessons, while others criticize their use of perceived demeaning language and ad hominem attacks.

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It Was the Pilot, Not Weather

I disagree with the conclusion in “The Day the Music Died” in January. The cause of the crash was not the departure weather, with a ceiling of 3000 feet, sky obscured, visibility six miles in light snow and a stiff wind 20-30 mph. The wreckage was found less than six miles from the airport. They never got to fly the remainder of the flight, making the rest of the weather moot.

Pilot Roger Peterson had no IFR ticket. He had logged 52 hours of instrument training, had passed his written examination, and had failed an instrument ride nine months before the accident. But I think the real killer item was that his training had been using a conventional artificial horizon, while N3794N was equipped with an older Sperry F3 sky-pointer gyroscope. That would confuse anybody the first time out, especially in weather.