A twin Cessna’s fatal crash into a Santee, California, neighborhood — killing the pilot and one person on the ground — is at the heart of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute’s latest Accident Case Study video.
Accident Case Study: Deadly Disorientation examines the turbulent conditions, complex approach instructions, and disorienting weather that contributed to this tragic accident, offering lessons for pilots on the dangers of spatial disorientation.
“We look at factors that affected the flight, including the pilot’s workload while flying in turbulent conditions and complying with multiple heading and altitude changes on approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego,” said AOPA’s ASI Senior Vice President Mike Ginter.
“As the pilot was instructed to climb and expect vectors to re-intercept final he likely experienced fluctuating light conditions flying in and out of clouds in marginal visual weather — an extremely disorienting situation that can ultimately lead to spatial disorientation,” he added.
“This tragic accident is a stark reminder that it is vitally important to be able to identify spatial disorientation symptoms and act on them before they lead to loss of control,” Ginter concluded.
Accident Case Studies use FAA air traffic control radio communication transcripts, National Transportation Safety Board documentation, and video animation to track each accident’s chain of events.
For more information: AOPA.org
