On Mar 3, 4:22 am, Sam Spade wrote:
wrote:

And what if someone crashed trying to scud run to Riverside because an
IFR departure were refused? Wouldn't that get the TRACON manager in
trouble?

Why would it? That makes the pilot sound like a victim.

Victim is taking it a bit far. I was thinking more along the lines of
a denied IFR clearance being identified as contributing to an accident
specifically because the OP was told to get a special VFR clearance to
Riverside. And if you're worried about terrain, usually an IFR
clearance will allow you to climb higher than a special VFR clearance
in Class D airspace.