IFR with a VFR GPS

Recall that the NTSB accident database has at least one recent C172 fatal
accident where the NTSB concluded that the pilot was flying a GPS approach
with nothing but a VFR GPS.

What was the cause of that crash? Was the VFR GPS giving erronious
information? Was it hard to use, not being attached to the plane? Was
the pilot unfamiliar with the device? Was the approach even in the
database?

Jose
--
He who laughs, lasts.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Jose" wrote in message
news

What was the cause of that crash? Was the VFR GPS giving erronious
information? Was it hard to use, not being attached to the plane? Was
the pilot unfamiliar with the device? Was the approach even in the
database?


http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...23X05372&key=1

The NTSB determined the probable cause to be the failure of the pilot
to follow the published instrument approach procedure resulting in an early
descent into the tower. Why conclude the pilot believed he was someplace
other than where he was? Why is that more likely than just a descent below
the MDA?

Jose wrote:

What was the cause of that crash? Was the VFR GPS giving erronious
information? Was it hard to use, not being attached to the plane? Was
the pilot unfamiliar with the device? Was the approach even in the
database?

Well, the official, sterile probable cause reads:

"The failure of the pilot to follow the published instrument approach
procedure, which resulted in an early descent into an antenna tower. A
factor was the low ceiling"

Of course, all of those factors you mentioned certainly are possible, too,
but not provable. A clue to these other factors leading to this accident
was that the aircraft was one mile to the right of course at the IAF.

I recall reading an accident analysis article of this crash (I forgot which
of my monthly periodicals it was in) a few months ago that went into more
detail about the pilot flying an IFR approach with a VFR GPS.

--
Peter
























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"Peter R." wrote in message
...

Well, the official, sterile probable cause reads:

"The failure of the pilot to follow the published instrument approach
procedure, which resulted in an early descent into an antenna tower. A
factor was the low ceiling"

Of course, all of those factors you mentioned certainly are possible, too,
but not provable.


Nor is the NTSB's probable cause.



A clue to these other factors leading to this accident
was that the aircraft was one mile to the right of course at the IAF.


But "just slightly left of the approach course centerline" when it struck
the tower.