That's why aircraft have instruments. One would think a pilot with his experience would have been closely watching his instruments. I'm sure it's hard, though, when your brain is telling you one thing and your instruments another. This is the same way JFK, Jr., crashed his plane. Of course, he was not a particularly experienced pilot.
You are absolutely right.
JFK was not an experienced pilot and what is even more sad is that his wife was on board as well.
They were both very beautiful people!
My instructor smoked during training flights; I told her she was trying to simulate fog. She was a great pilot.
Instrument flight is hard because one has to concentrate on the instruments and ignore one’s gut sensations and chatter from traffic control and inside the aircraft. Even a moment’s distraction can have tragic consequences.
Neither the pilot nor the helicopter nor the company were allowed to make IFR flights though.
If he needed to rely on his instruments, and could no longer fly VFR, he should have returned to the airport.
Instead, he requested special VFR clearance, which is probably what doomed the flight in the fog, since he probably couldn’t actually see well enough for that clearance.
Most likely the root cause is “get there itis” with a VIP on board.
JFK never should have departed from New Jersey on that flight, but he had two harridans with him who wouldn’t even dream of being late for the sister’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard. This was no secret to employees and other travelers at Essex County Airport in New Jersey who witnessed the events at the airport before the doomed flight left that evening.
You are correct sir. Before my son entered USAF pilot training, I pounded into his head, if you get vertigo, trust ONLY your instruments. On a night flight he told his IP that he was feeling vertigo. His IP told him to fight it, and trust his instruments. He did that. He told me his inner ear told him he was descending, but his instruments told him he was in straight and level flight. Now, read my tagline. 👍
Evidently those instruments don't work if there is little to no horizontal speed..
“Of course, he was not a particularly experienced pilot.”
He was experienced and instrument rated.