ATC may have screwed up by giving him a Special VFR Clearance.
https://pilotworkshop.com/tips/special_vfr_clearance/
ATC may have screwed up by giving him a Special VFR Clearance.
I worked ATC in the 70’s with Army aviation. Those pilots could fly thru anything, and often did in their Cobras. Everything, everything, is at pilot’s discretion. You don’t have to fly if you don’t like the situation.
From what little we are given, this seems to be pilot error, made more difficult by scattered scud.
I saw a video on the local news (I live in L.A.) that suggested to me that the pilot followed the wrong road - - that’s my speculation - - and when he realized it he turned into a problem.
We will see. Meanwhile, we will grieve for all the lost souls.