Page:CAB Accident Report, AAXICO Logair Flight 1416B.pdf/11

- 11 - At the time N6579C was making the approach, the storm was having its greatest effect on the areas to the west and south of the base. The Board is of the opinion that a VFR approach and landing could have been made if the flight had circled the base to the east and landed on runway 18.

It is obvious the crew did not maintain VFR during the approach. Since they were operating on a VFR flight plan they were obligated to conduct the flight in VFR conditions. In order to continue the flight into an area of instrument weather the pilot is required to change to an IFR flight plan. In this instance, to do this would have involved a delay as the flight would have to remain in VFR conditions while the IFR request was being processed.

The reason the route into the area of restricted visibility was chosen is reflected in the captain's testimony when he stated that the weather, as given indicated landing (on) 36 was very feasible and it was to the advantage of the company and himself to continue straight in.

During the approximately eight-minute period during which the flight was in radio contact with the tower, the controller made four separate transmissions giving weather information to the flight. None of these transmissions included any information regarding the thunderstorm which was just west of the base and affecting conditions at the base. The controller testified that he knew of the presence of the thunderstorm both through visual sighting and from the weather date supplied by base weather. It must be pointed out, however, that while the controller was physically located on one side of the storm which was affecting the approach area to runway 36, the flight was on the other side of the same storm and the crew should have been self alerted to the potential hazards associated with flying into it.

2.2 Conclusions

(a) Findings

1. The aircraft, powerplants; and all systems were capable of normal operation.

2. The crew canceled their IFR flight plan shortly after departure from Tinker AFB and continued in VFR conditions until just after passing the outer marker while inbound to runway 36 at Whiteman AFB.

3. The ILS at Whiteman AFB was on and functioning properly during the approach of N6579C.

4. There was a southeasterly moving line of thunderstorms just west of Whiteman AFB at the time N6579C was approaching.

5. An area of heavy rain associated with the thunderstorms was situated south of the base obstructing the crew's visual contact with the base and runway, as well as the tower controller's visual sighting of the aircraft.

6. The crew was briefed prior to departure from Tinker AFB regarding the possibility of thunderstorms in the Whiteman area upon their arrival.