"Hilton" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi,

Unfortunately some folks have degraded the initial thread to some
political rambling, so I figured I'd post this to a new thread.

As I predicted:
1. "non-instrument rated private pilot"
2. "Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed"
3. "a flight plan was not filed for the cross-country flight"
4. "As the airplane proceeded east from the departure airport, the pilot
reported that he was having trouble maintaining outside visual contact and
controlling the airplane and wanted help getting back to the airport."

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...27X02016&key=1

I am a CFI-I and I wouldn't have taken my wife and two kids up on that
flight in those conditions.

Hilton


Hilton,
We seem to share the frustration of watching someone's reckless disregard
for the consequences inherent in aviation result in the death of themselves
or those who depend on their judgment. In this case it would be revealing
to know if this flight was undertaken through ignorance (which could be a
training issue) or if other external forces (pilot or passenger
getthereitis) or other human factor caused the pilot to disregard the
recommendation regarding VFR flight not recommended. It seems that this
pilot did not recognize the level of risk (and final terror) to which he was
exposing his family.

This frustration lead me to start a thread last April subject "human factors
recklessness", where I said in part
I am tempted to ask why? where are we failing? are we glorifying
recklessness? Are we truly self destructive (cigarettes, food, alcohol,
pollution etc)? what can we do? but

I know that we must each find the answers within ourselves and to strive for
the personal situational control to handle these situations and temptations.
Training (and experience) helps, as do mentors. (Thank you Dudley, Gene
etal)

The study of human factors recognizes that (like Pogo) "We have seen the
problem and it is US". Controlling the aircraft is only a part of
successful flight operation, control of the pilot seems to be the largest
part of the problem.

My condolences and sympathy to all mourning family and friends.