VFR into IMC · NTSB CEN12FA098
SOCATA TB21 — Silverton, CO
| Date | December 3, 2011 |
| Location | Silverton, CO |
| Aircraft | SOCATA TB21 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise VFR encounter with IMC |
| Pilot age | 59 |
| Pilot total time | 594 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 217 hrs |
| Fatalities | 4 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-Spar (on wing)-Capability exceeded - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Effect on personnel - C
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total instrument experience-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
What happened
The non-instrument-rated pilot departed for his destination with active weather advisories for his route of flight for instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions and mountain obscuration due to clouds, precipitation, and mist. After departure, the pilot attempted to remain in visual flight rules (VFR) flight by climbing above 18,000 feet mean sea level and proceeding toward his destination. When queried by an air traffic controller, the pilot stated that he could not descend due to weather. In addition, he stated that he was not instrument rated or qualified. No further transmissions were made by the pilot. Witnesses near the accident site reported low clouds with light snow flurries. On-site wreckage distribution was consistent with an in-flight breakup. Further, an examination of the wreckage revealed signatures on the airplane’s right wing consistent with it failing in overload in the upward direction and signatures on the empennage and tail section consistent with their failure in overload in the downward direction, indicating the failures were due to loads that exceeded the airplane’s structural limits. A weather study revealed the potential for clouds at the pilot’s cruising altitude, which increased the potential for VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Therefore, it is likely that the pilot encountered IMC, became spatially disoriented, and then maneuvered the airplane in a manner that exceeded the airplane’s structural limits while trying to return to level flight and avoid mountainous terrain.