Latest Cirrus Crash

Sounds like all issue candidates at this stage point to pilot error. Shame. If this proves to be the case, then it will be another lesson to us all to make sure we remain current and fly within our capabilities at all times. What a sad story.

 

You have to offset this "source" with a few things - the main one being that the NTSB prelim has no mention of a fuel problem combined with the fact that the tanks were "fully disrupted" as per:

"National Transportation Safety Board investigator Tom Latson said ....

“I have confirmed with the fixed-base operator at the Norman (Oklahoma) airport that the plane was topped, it should give five hours of flight time,” Latson said when asked if the plane crashed due to lack of fuel. The airplane departed from the airport in Norman at about 10:15 a.m. Thursday for the flight to Houston, and crashed approximately 3 hours later.

Latson noted fuel tanks on the plane were completely disrupted, so officials will have to investigate the fuel lines to see if an empty tank was a factor in the crash."

-mick

 

Reading the account of this tragedy the first thought that went through my head was to recall the 1 time when I was working towards my license that I landed at a commercial airport (OAK) vs. the typical small private airports I practiced at. I was super stressed by the ATC telling me that I had to hurry (using different words) because I had a jet behind me at XXX knots. Totally filled my mind with stuff unrelated to maintaining my alignment and slope. The instructor had to take over and get us in quick. I told him "no more trips to OAK" until I was much farther along. I can relate to her getting in over her head. There must be a dozen small airports within 20 miles of there...too bad she didn't bail and head for one.

If true, then its a whole 'nuther degree of stupid. (although it would explain her reluctance to find a different airport)

Brutal to listen to this. That was a ton of instruction from ATC and a bunch of bad flying (too high, etc). And then to run out of fuel. What a mess. RIP

 

I'd bet money that her tanks were not dry and she simply stalled and spun it. New(ish) pilot, unfamiliar airport, high stress, confusion, several failed approaches....she was overwhelmed and stopped watching the airspeed.



Mark

 

Sad situation. Even an overwhelmed pilot can land safely if they ask the tower for assistance.
I would have confessed to ATC that I'm having trouble and I would have requested a runway that minimized the xwind.

Then, I'd ask for vectors to position me 3 miles out on final for that runway.
I can do a my "normal pattern approach" on a straight in once I get to that 3 mile out position (assuming I'm about 1000 feet AGL)

It appears, in the accident scenario, the lady pilot didn't ask the tower for what she needed to make it a routine landing for her.
I know that "hindsight is 20/20", but I wish the pilot had thought of better options.

 

That's exactly what my instructor taught me. If it's excessively busy, or you feel overwhelmed, just ask the tower for vectors for a straight in approach.




Mark