On 2006-04-24, Matt Barrow wrote:
BTW, for me, IMC means autopilot on or Flight Director at the least. How
many "spam cans", as Jay puts it, have an AP/FD arrangement. If what I get
from my browsing from the accident reports is even fairly accurate, it's
very few.

IFR into IMC in a 172 or Archer without those is a accident waiting to
happen, EVEN IF IT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL.

I don't think it's THAT extreme (however, some kind of lightning
detection in many parts of the world is almost always necessary. A
Strikefinder might not be good enough to thread the needle between
T-storms but at least you know it's there and don't just go blundering
into it; these devices are good for strategic planning).

The thing is a C172 is very stable and extremely easy to fly in IMC.
It's not like trying to fly a Baron with no autopilot and no flight
director in IMC. A _current_ pilot in a C172 who flies IMC often just
shouldn't have a problem - trimmed out, a properly rigged C172 flies
itself. It just isn't hard (unless you start overcontrolling because
you're spatially disoriented - but someone who gets wound up enough to
lose control of a C172 will probably still lose control with a flight
director).

The most intense flights I've had were in low IFR in a Beech Bonanza on
a moderately bumpy day - single pilot (I was the only occupant). I was
very IFR current at the time. I dread to think what it would have been
like to make those flights without plenty of recent IMC flight.

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