#SBG 28/08/22 - Page 10 para 41.+ Speculative Ramble.
The sparse, clinical data provided in the Corners report of the horrific injuries sustained in the accident - says much more than the dry ATSB report; or even the Coroners comments about that report into the oldest trap in the book springing closed. Trapped in a valley with no way out. Limited options all the way to the trap closing; in cloud, close to the bricks at speed. Click - lights out.
NZ CAA - "The golden rule of mountain flying is to always have an escape route regardless of whether you are flying a fixed-wing aircraft or a helicopter. The aircraft must never be placed in a situation where there is insufficient room to turn back safely, or to recover from an encounter with turbulence or downdraught, or to make a successful forced landing in the event of an engine failure."
No slight intended, but this was not a feet on the dashboard, chatting 'on line' type of day.....I know: it shouldn't trouble me, but, alas it does. This taking of pictures and sending text messages during flight. I know taking the picture, tapping out a text and sending it probably has little to do with the end result; but could it be that the time spent messing about with a phone could have been better spent in deciding to take alternate action?
![[Image: figure-5.jpg?width=459&height=459]](https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5780571/figure-5.jpg?width=459&height=459)
Did that image create a false sense of security; pressure off, weather looks good; no worries? Impossible to say; but, does it provide an insight to the 'mind-set' of the pilot? Despite the ATSB, CASA and Coroner all doing their best to provide informed data; the true answer to 'Why' lies within the pilots head; it is there we must go if we are to solve the VFR /CFIT /IMC equation. This is a job for your favourite 'Shrink' IMO, or it should be. I cannot find an analysis of this nature anywhere in the history of VFR pilot v IMC. There are volumes on every other factor involved except 'what was he thinking'. Which brings me back to the picture taking and sending of text messages; a bright, happy, young pilot doing that which we have all done; rolling the dice against weather and terrain, looking forward to a party and a future career. There is a side bar to this speculation - the pilot was 'qualified' for low flight operations and had held an instrument rating; both handy tools to have in the bag; but, once again, like the photograph, did they subconsciously affect the decision making process. We will never know, not now. Perhaps we should - CFIT from IMC penetration is far and away the biggest killer on record; serial killer class and despite the efforts made to reduce the carnage, the radical of Why persist has not been plumbed. We just can't sit back and blame fate, or bravado, or fool hardiness; or some form of 'itis'; not forever. Ramble over, apologies to those offended.
![[Image: figure-6.jpg?width=620.5842911877394&height=670]](https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5780561/figure-6.jpg?width=620.5842911877394&height=670)
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On a less esoteric note, there's little of note actually happening; the bearded Popinjay is flogging ADSB to all and sundry as the answer to a pagan prayer; it may well give ATSB more graphics to play with after the event but is of limited value to any of those involved in the latest fatal accidents. P2 sums it up neatly - HERE -.
Hitch (LMH) Oz flying has provided a report on the GA leaders con - flab (snow job?) in Canberra with the new minister La'King. Hitch seems fairly upbeat about the thing; but fails to mention the 'other' outfits which were not in attendance; but as they say MTF on that. Its not a bad summary; but one line jumps off the page for shear accuracy - Choc frog and verbatim I shall quote it:-
Hitch - "The members of the round table all agreed on one other point: the stockpile of expertise in engineering and flight crew training has reached a nadir, and it will take much more than ineffective measures and motherhood statements to recover the situation. If King was engaged and interested as people believe, there is no way she could have left the room under any other impression than that the industry was desperate to turn things around. Only what she elects to do next can tell us if the optimism she generated in Canberra last Tuesday is justified."
Not holding my breath; not so long as the Queen of Motherhood, soft soap and faerie tales is DAS; nope, not gunna do-it. Work programs, white paper, 'educational road shows' and no attempt made to rationalise the big problems at the beating heart of the moribund, hidebound, purblind outfit she believes she is in charge of and controlling. More paperwork anyone?? Sign on here.............::
Enough - big day today; been building a carpenters bench for mate from off cuts and recycled lumber for a while now (time permitting); we assembled it yesterday - most satisfactory - today we will fit his 'new' (old) vise and see how it all works. Off cuts and hardwood BBQ with Ale promised afterwards - can't wait.
Selah...
The sparse, clinical data provided in the Corners report of the horrific injuries sustained in the accident - says much more than the dry ATSB report; or even the Coroners comments about that report into the oldest trap in the book springing closed. Trapped in a valley with no way out. Limited options all the way to the trap closing; in cloud, close to the bricks at speed. Click - lights out.
NZ CAA - "The golden rule of mountain flying is to always have an escape route regardless of whether you are flying a fixed-wing aircraft or a helicopter. The aircraft must never be placed in a situation where there is insufficient room to turn back safely, or to recover from an encounter with turbulence or downdraught, or to make a successful forced landing in the event of an engine failure."
No slight intended, but this was not a feet on the dashboard, chatting 'on line' type of day.....I know: it shouldn't trouble me, but, alas it does. This taking of pictures and sending text messages during flight. I know taking the picture, tapping out a text and sending it probably has little to do with the end result; but could it be that the time spent messing about with a phone could have been better spent in deciding to take alternate action?
Did that image create a false sense of security; pressure off, weather looks good; no worries? Impossible to say; but, does it provide an insight to the 'mind-set' of the pilot? Despite the ATSB, CASA and Coroner all doing their best to provide informed data; the true answer to 'Why' lies within the pilots head; it is there we must go if we are to solve the VFR /CFIT /IMC equation. This is a job for your favourite 'Shrink' IMO, or it should be. I cannot find an analysis of this nature anywhere in the history of VFR pilot v IMC. There are volumes on every other factor involved except 'what was he thinking'. Which brings me back to the picture taking and sending of text messages; a bright, happy, young pilot doing that which we have all done; rolling the dice against weather and terrain, looking forward to a party and a future career. There is a side bar to this speculation - the pilot was 'qualified' for low flight operations and had held an instrument rating; both handy tools to have in the bag; but, once again, like the photograph, did they subconsciously affect the decision making process. We will never know, not now. Perhaps we should - CFIT from IMC penetration is far and away the biggest killer on record; serial killer class and despite the efforts made to reduce the carnage, the radical of Why persist has not been plumbed. We just can't sit back and blame fate, or bravado, or fool hardiness; or some form of 'itis'; not forever. Ramble over, apologies to those offended.
-On a less esoteric note, there's little of note actually happening; the bearded Popinjay is flogging ADSB to all and sundry as the answer to a pagan prayer; it may well give ATSB more graphics to play with after the event but is of limited value to any of those involved in the latest fatal accidents. P2 sums it up neatly - HERE -.
Hitch (LMH) Oz flying has provided a report on the GA leaders con - flab (snow job?) in Canberra with the new minister La'King. Hitch seems fairly upbeat about the thing; but fails to mention the 'other' outfits which were not in attendance; but as they say MTF on that. Its not a bad summary; but one line jumps off the page for shear accuracy - Choc frog and verbatim I shall quote it:-
Hitch - "The members of the round table all agreed on one other point: the stockpile of expertise in engineering and flight crew training has reached a nadir, and it will take much more than ineffective measures and motherhood statements to recover the situation. If King was engaged and interested as people believe, there is no way she could have left the room under any other impression than that the industry was desperate to turn things around. Only what she elects to do next can tell us if the optimism she generated in Canberra last Tuesday is justified."
Not holding my breath; not so long as the Queen of Motherhood, soft soap and faerie tales is DAS; nope, not gunna do-it. Work programs, white paper, 'educational road shows' and no attempt made to rationalise the big problems at the beating heart of the moribund, hidebound, purblind outfit she believes she is in charge of and controlling. More paperwork anyone?? Sign on here.............::
Enough - big day today; been building a carpenters bench for mate from off cuts and recycled lumber for a while now (time permitting); we assembled it yesterday - most satisfactory - today we will fit his 'new' (old) vise and see how it all works. Off cuts and hardwood BBQ with Ale promised afterwards - can't wait.
Selah...