The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued a warning about flying visually in poor weather after an investigation into a fatal accident near Mount Hotham.
Cessna VH-KKM collided with the side of Mount Blue Rag at around 5000 feet AMSL on 23 October 2013, whilst on a VFR flight from Moruya to Mangalore. The pilot died in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed.
The ATSB report released today found that weather in the area at the time was not suitable for VFR flight.
ATSB General Manager of Aviation Safety Investigations, Ian Sangston, said the crash served as a reminder to VFR pilots of the danger of pressing on into non-visual conditions.
"Between 1993 and 2013 there were 11 accidents involving inadvertant visual flight into instrument meterological conditions such as poor weather or cloud," he said.
"While meteorological forecasts are inevitably set in terms of the likelihood of low cloud, fog or rain affecting a flight, it is the responsibility of pilots to analyse the risk and make appropriate decisions. In forecast marginal weather, this involves considering alternative options such as diverting or turning back.
"Pressing on into poor visiblity conditions with no instrument rating, and/or in an inappropriately-instrumented aircraft carries a significant risk of severe spatial disorientation due to powerful and misleading orientation sensations.
"This tragic accident was avoidable. It's both sad and frustrating that we continue to investigate accidents where visual flight rules pilots push the limits when flying with poor visibility."
The ATSB report also found that inexperience and a lack of recency may have contributed to the pilot's decision to press on rather than turn back or divert to a nearby airfield.
The investigation report is available on the ATSB website.