Reno Whoops

On Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 8:31:13 PM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2015/0...5-2015-in.html

VFR into IMC.

http://www.ktvn.com/story/28725423/m...downtown-reno3

Glad everyone is okay!!

T8

Where does it say that it was VFR into IMC?

On Monday, April 6, 2015 at 7:59:26 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Where does it say that it was VFR into IMC?

In the video. High winds didn't do it. In the words of the pilot, "I was going around the clouds and the clouds closed in on me...".

METAR KRNO 052055Z 18024G29KT 10SM BKN070 BKN090 BKN150 BKN220 09/M05 A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 18032/2025 SLP042 MTN TOPS OBSCD DSNT SW SH DSNT N SW-W T00941050 58010

I remember a few years ago an ASH-26E had a similar incident. I know the butterfly and LX 9070 both have instant on horizons.

The rotor can detach, and then drift downwind. What then happens is that the wave bar jumps forward, and the cloud forms around you.

On 4/6/2015 6:59 AM, wrote:
Where does it say that it was VFR into IMC?

The pilot says that in the TV interview. In more ways than one, he's
incredibly fortunate to still be among the living.

In terms of a lennie (if that's what it was) forming around you, BTDT, and
believe that I was seriously relieved to be flying a
large-deflection-landing-flap-only-equipped sailplane, so IMC was - in pulling
the wings off terms - a non-event. (Having practiced with the flaps'
capabilities well beforehand, I had reason to believe that woulda been true in
*any* type of cloud, of course, rotor included...)

Bob W.

I have to second the value of having an artificial horizon...and knowing how to use it. I just installed an S80 because of the artificial horizon.
Instant on. No tumbling.

On Monday, April 6, 2015 at 9:34:02 AM UTC-7, wrote:
I have to second the value of having an artificial horizon...and knowing how to use it. I just installed an S80 because of the artificial horizon.
Instant on. No tumbling.

I imagine getting involved with any IMC related to wave probably will not be resolved with an AH. Ask Eric Larson and Bob Speilman. Roll Cloud?

While I learned long ago never to judge the misfortune of another pilot, I think it is instructive to learn from the incidents of others. Many years ago I owned and flew a glider out of Minden during the summer months. I did do some wave flying, while not an expert I did identify the dangers and tried to minimize them. Imagine if Bob could not have gotten out of his glider and/or his glider killed someone on the ground. When I was flying from Minden I sought out an great flight instructor with a Janus and several hours of benign spiral training before the beginning of each season. After the training in the Janus, I would try benign spirals in my bird. I also found a 57mm horizon from a F-4 and installed that in my panel. When I was in wave with any moisture I always spun my horizon up and left it on. I also was a current instrument rated pilot.

If you are going to fly wave, or fly at all, practice mindfulness. What can you do to minimize risks to yourself and innocents on the ground or in the air with you? I do believe Eric Larson had a horizon but it was not spun up, and he certainly was/is a qualified instrument pilot. With today's instant on horizons it is much cheaper to spend the money to get one than to risk your life or those on the ground. Fly a few hours under the hood each season with an instructor.

One more point and this applies to driving and flying, dress to egress. I was surprised to see Bob's down booties stayed on his feet. However imagine if he had landed on a mountain side and the booties had come off, or even if the booties hadn't he would be screwed either way. Summer or winter I never wear cotton, nor short sleeves nor shorts. My foot wear is always something I can walk for miles in over very rough terrain. This paid off one night when I had an inflight fire and landed a power aircraft deep in the mountains at night. I had a good survival bag, my only mistake was among the FIVE flashlights I carried, not one of them had white light, they were all red, blue or green.
the colored flashlights are great in the cockpit at night, but worthless on the ground at night. Think more than one step ahead. I also fly with a little adventure survival pouch in my pants pocket and an Alan Silver survival pack on my chute.

As for judging other, I had read an article about a 7,500 hour ATP that stalled and crashed an easy to fly light twin in good daylight weather. I thought what a fool, how could anyone do that? Two days later I almost stalled a light twin at twilight in good weather, question answered! I thought about my mistake for a long time and I tried to learn as much as possible from both what happened and my thought process.

Fly safe and never put your brain in autopilot!

While my vario has an AH, it does occasionally decide to reboot itself.
The manufacturer's legal team has written a thorough disclaimer in the
manual.

I would like to know if he bailed out before or after the wings came off.
It would be really exciting after the wings are off.