Flight and Communication
A pilot conducting a night VFR flight neared his destination and initiated a descent, establishing radio contact with the control tower. The controller pointed out traffic and instructed the pilot to continue for runway 24. As the pilot continued his descent, the controller informed him that the airport was changing to IFR and directed him to contact approach control. A low layer of clouds had moved into the area.
Upon contacting approach control, the pilot requested to perform the ILS runway 24 approach. The controller began vectoring him for a left downwind and asked whether he was instrument qualified and current. The pilot responded, "We are IFR qualified," despite not holding an instrument rating.
Loss of Orientation
The controller instructed the pilot to turn left to a heading, but the pilot replied he was turning right. The controller again instructed a left turn, expect the ILS runway 24 approach, and to advise having current airport information. The pilot responded he was turning right and would pick up the information. The controller corrected him, stating it was not a right turn and that he had turned in the wrong direction on the last turn, and again instructed a left turn. The pilot then replied he was turning left to the assigned heading.
When the controller asked the aircraft type, the pilot replied, "Cirrus I had to pull the parachute."
Parachute Deployment
In an interview with the NTSB, the pilot stated he was struggling to keep the airplane level. He described being in instrument conditions, in a "black hole" without a visible horizon or ambient light, and that he became spatially disoriented and pulled the parachute.
Contributing Factors
Advisory Circular 60-4A states that the attitude of an aircraft is generally determined by reference to the natural horizon or other visual references. If neither exists, attitude must be determined by artificial means from flight instruments. During low visibility, supporting senses may conflict with sight, making a pilot particularly vulnerable to disorientation.
Because of the clouds that had moved into the area, the pilot likely could not distinguish ground cues that would have helped him determine the airplane's attitude. Without an instrument rating, the pilot was unable to use his flight instruments to successfully orient and land the airplane.