tomshep wrote:I'm not licensed to get myself into that sort of mess but what would I do if I were?
I would know that I should be able to see the airport lights once low enough and that ATC had a better idea of where I was than I had. If they can call my height, confirm my heading and assure me that I am over the runway, why wouldn't I continue, placing my trust in those better able to help me than I could myself?
I could be certain that JFK has enough runway to get a 172 down with a mile or so margin of error. The shortest is a mile and a half.
Some credit to the pilot though. He maintained his composure and flew it right to the crash site.
PeteSpencer wrote:Keeping the needles centred should not be too much of a problem as he slipped below minima. As ice says better to splat on a wide expanse of flat tarmac than dangling from power cables in a residential area.
tomshep wrote:I would know that I should be able to see the airport lights once low enough and that ATC had a better idea of where I was than I had. If they can call my height, confirm my heading and assure me that I am over the runway, why wouldn't I continue, placing my trust in those better able to help me than I could myself? I could be certain that JFK has enough runway to get a 172 down with a mile or so margin of error.
Paul_Sengupta wrote:It may have been that the pilot thought he might get prosecuted...don't know about the US, but this is happening in Jersey
AndyR wrote:Just in case anyone is tempted...Please don’t follow an ILS below minima. The glide path can and does do all sorts of things.
johnm wrote:It's an emergency when you are running out of options.
I fly IFR into Channel Islands a good deal, as does @derekf fog is a hazard at many times of the year and winds can be pretty drastic and things can change in minutes.
In Alderney there's only been a single narrow runway with an LPV approach for some while and I have had a few hairy moments, but I always go with enough fuel to come home if all else fails and all else is two or three goes into Alderney, then divert to one of Guernsey, Jersey, Cherbourg or Dinard.