The Preliminary Reports section of Aviation Safety July 2001 issue reports the following:
April 10, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Cirrus SR20
At about 18:50 mountain time, a Cirrus SR20 struck mountains and burned northwest of Sierra Vista, killing the pilot and two passengers. Instrument conditions prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. The wreckage was located near the crest on the side of a ridgeline at 5,200 feet msl. The wreckage distribution was localized within about a 50-foot radius of the impact site on the 30-degree slope of the mountain. Weather at the time was low clouds obscuring high terrain, gusting winds and freezing precipitation. The airplane ballistic recovery parachute system had not been deployed.
Most of this has been previously reported. Be careful out there!
As I understand it, (from previous posts, disclaimer made) this was a non-instrument rated pilot flying in IMC conditions (low clouds obscuring high terrain, gusting winds and freezing precipitation). A classic recipe for disaster.
Bad choices are bad choices in any airplane.
I state again: As taught to me by veteran instructor and examiner Norm Seward of Dallas, TX, “It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground.” Live by it.
Sympathetically,
Charles
(less than a week to pick up my SR22!)
The Preliminary Reports section of Aviation Safety July 2001 issue reports the following:
April 10, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Cirrus SR20
At about 18:50 mountain time, a Cirrus SR20 struck mountains and burned northwest of Sierra Vista, killing the pilot and two passengers. Instrument conditions prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. The wreckage was located near the crest on the side of a ridgeline at 5,200 feet msl. The wreckage distribution was localized within about a 50-foot radius of the impact site on the 30-degree slope of the mountain. Weather at the time was low clouds obscuring high terrain, gusting winds and freezing precipitation. The airplane ballistic recovery parachute system had not been deployed.
Most of this has been previously reported. Be careful out there!