Crossing a stepdown fix high

wrote in message
...

The pilots made an error under lots of pressure and adverse weather
conditions. The list of fatal accident reports where stepdown fixes are
busted in G/A during IMC is a very long list indeed.


Yes, the pilots made an error, but they did not find granite or trees while
getting down to a step-down fix as you stated in your previous message.
They descended below the MDA and struck trees over two miles past the
step-down fix.

(Michael) wrote in
om:

In other words, CANPA. Just out of curiosity, do you
normally fly with a copilot? Perhaps one whose major
responsibility on the descent is spotting the landing area?

I normally fly with a copilot, but the PNF's major
responsibility is to monitor the descent and make sure we don't
go below MDA, and generally monitor things. Spotting the
landing area is a responsibility, but not the top of the list.
Not hitting hard things at speed is the major responsibility of
both of us. If we don't land, we can try again. If we crash,
that's the end of the flight. On an ILS to minimums, he's
looking for the approach lights from about 100' above DH until
he sees something or I call out "Decide!". I still don't get in
a hurry to break out - at MAP is safer than earlier, IMO,
because it doesn't invite the temptation to get low, looking
outside. The closest I've ever been to crashing is during the
VFR sequence after breaking out.

--
Regards,

Stan