Brief Summary
This video tells the story of a tragic plane crash that occurred in 2015. The pilot, Michael, was flying his new Bonanza aircraft home from a vacation in Florida with his wife and father-in-law. Despite being warned about IFR conditions and a storm approaching, Michael rushed to take off and ended up flying into the clouds. During the approach to Greensboro Airport, Michael became disoriented and struggled to maintain control of the aircraft. The controller's actions, which included a no-gyro approach, likely exacerbated the situation, leading to the crash and the deaths of all three passengers. The family sued the FAA, claiming inadequate training for controllers, but the court ruled in favor of the FAA, stating that Michael should not have been flying in those conditions.
- Michael, a pilot with experience in instrument weather conditions, purchased a new Bonanza aircraft and rushed to fly home from Florida despite warnings about IFR conditions and a storm.
- During the approach to Greensboro Airport, Michael became disoriented and struggled to maintain control of the aircraft. The controller's actions, including a no-gyro approach, likely exacerbated the situation.
- The family sued the FAA, claiming inadequate training for controllers, but the court ruled in favor of the FAA, stating that Michael should not have been flying in those conditions.
The Flight
The video begins by introducing Michael, a pilot with over 800 hours of flight time, who was flying his new Beechcraft A36 Bonanza home from a vacation in Florida with his wife and father-in-law. Michael had recently purchased the aircraft and had only received 6 hours of flight time and 1.5 hours of ground instruction in it. He had also not flown any instrument approaches in the Bonanza with a hood, which simulates IFR conditions. Despite this lack of experience, Michael decided to fly home on September 7th, 2015, despite warnings about IFR conditions and a storm approaching.
The Approach
The video then focuses on the events leading up to the crash. Michael was cleared for an ILS approach to Runway 5 Right at Greensboro Airport. He was warned about the weather conditions, including 10 miles of visibility and overcast skies at 1100 feet. Despite this, Michael seemed confused about the approach and asked the controller multiple times about the runway and the approach type. He also did not engage the autopilot, which could have helped him manage the approach.
The Crash
As Michael descended into the clouds, he became disoriented and struggled to maintain control of the aircraft. He reported being "almost disoriented" and requested vectors to final. The controller, who was unfamiliar with no-gyro procedures, attempted to guide Michael through a no-gyro approach, which is typically used in emergency situations. However, the controller's actions, including reversing the direction of turns, likely exacerbated Michael's disorientation. The aircraft entered a steep spiral and crashed, killing all three passengers.
The Aftermath
The video concludes by discussing the aftermath of the crash. The family of the victims sued the FAA, claiming that the controller's actions contributed to the crash. However, the court ruled in favor of the FAA, stating that Michael should not have been flying in those conditions and that even if the controller had guided him differently, there was no guarantee that he would have been able to recover. The video emphasizes the importance of pilot judgment and the need to avoid flying in conditions that are beyond one's capabilities.
