Aftermath: The Audacity of Hope

Peter Garrison

Friday, September 30, 2011 at 07:24 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot, eager to reach his destination, flew into forecasted severe icing conditions in an aircraft not approved for such weather, despite a detailed pre-flight briefing.
During the ILS approach, strong crosswinds and likely autopilot use caused the aircraft to drift significantly off course, leading to pilot disorientation and a delayed, unstabilized descent into accumulating ice.
The pilot eventually lost control and stalled the ice-laden aircraft during a desperate recovery attempt, underscoring the dangers of inadequate preparation, flying into known severe IMC without proper equipment, and delayed emergency action.

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(September 2011) It was the Friday before Christmas, and the pilot-owner of a Piper Saratoga was eager to get home for a party. At 2:30 in the afternoon he called Flight Service to brief a flight from College Park, Maryland, to Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) in Ohio, 240 nm distant. He said he hoped to take off as early as 3, and so the briefer asked whether he wanted a full standard briefing or just the highlights.

“I don’t want to waste your time,” said the pilot, transferring to the briefer a concern that was more likely his own. “Let’s figure out if this sounds like a suicide mission or not, and then we’ll go from there.”