On March 7, 1993, a Piper PA-22 (registration N67559) operated by Baumgartner, Robert G. was involved in an aviation accident near Iliamna, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT IN COMMANDS ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT A VISUAL FLIGHT DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE EMERGENCY 180 DEGREE TURN MANEUVER TO REVERSE DIRECTION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A VFR restricted private pilot departed in IMC, intending to use ground features for visual reference, but encountered whiteout conditions and became spatially disoriented, resulting in an inverted crash.
Pilot Actions
The pilot, a holder of a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) restricted private pilot certificate, departed the airport in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). He intended to maintain visual reference with the ground by relying on prominent ground features.
Accident Sequence
Once airborne, the pilot realized that no prominent ground reference features existed along the shoreline. He subsequently flew into whiteout conditions. The pilot stated that he became engrossed in trying to find the ground rather than flying the airplane. While attempting to perform a 180-degree turn maneuver, he became spatially disoriented. The airplane crashed in an inverted attitude.
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