Maule Driver wrote:
: It's a KLN909b GPS I guess. Granted that the crew knew how to use it
: and granted that the dating of the database had no impact, the cause
: seems to be a loss of situational awareness due in some part to misuse
: of the GPS.

: It seems that they 'half used' the GPS for this non-GPS approach and
: then 'over relied' on the GPS over use of the radio aids. That is, they
: setup the GPS to lead them to the FAF but neglected to press the hold
: button before reaching the IAF for the hold. No problem with that as
: long as you realize what you are doing and continue to use the DME, ADF,
: and RMI for identification of the various fixes.

: I'll bet this crew could have turned off the GPS and nailed this
: approach 1,000 times in a row without incident, or conversersely used
: the GPS exclusively with the Loc and NDB out of service and done the same.

Unless this an updated version of the NTSB report, it's been out for a few
months now. IIRC they conclude two problems:

- Using the GPS for DME info and having it auto-sequence without their knowledge.
Exiting the hold at a significantly higher altitude than the entry altitude didn't
help either.
- Incorrect missed approach procedure. I think they concluded that had they executed
the missed as published, the turn would have maintained terrain clearance.

Very unfortunate and personally disturbing to me. I flew the LOC/DME into my
home airport of BCB the *previous day* in identical weather... only about 40 miles to
the north of the accident. I broke out in about 500' and 1 mile.

-Cory


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************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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