I’ve met the pilot a few times and have some time in the accident aircraft. He also owns a RV9 so while possible it’s a Jerry moment, he was also mid 60s so I would say it’s more likely a medical issue
This one hit close to home, literally not far from our house. I appreciate your insight on his aviation background and I hope it was a medical issue. Although yesterday was uncommon by San Diego weather standards (40 knot winds aloft, moderate turbulence and broken layers) I’ve got to imagine he’s encountered it before if he was making the same commute for 10 years. And like
@Inverted said the ILS Rwy 28R circle to land Rwy 23 is the status quo on these rare windy days, and the controller was NOT loading him up (that is not busy by socal approach standards).
I try to reserve judgement on these things and hope you all give me the same courtesy if I ever perish in an airplane, but this one has been especially tough for me. If he suffered a stroke or other cognitive decline in flight then I have sympathy for all involved, it’s just an all around tragedy. But I won’t lie that my mind didn’t immediately go to Jerry Wagner’s video of FALLING OUT OF the ILS into Oakland in a nose down unusual attitude in a spatial disorientation/graveyard spiral, and the blatant parallels with this accident. Jerry has really become the poster child of the wealthy Twin Cessna commuter owner pilot demographic (sorry
@SlumTodd_Millionaire lol) and it’s difficult not to assume you guys are guilty until proven innocent.
So to reiterate, if this was a medical issue that led to a cognitive decline then it’s a sad tragedy all around. But if my neighbors’ houses burned down because somebody chose get home itis over instrument proficiency then I’m going to be pissed.
To the non-professional pilots who read this forum, take an extra moment to ponder the concept of instrument proficiency vs. currency, what it is you’re trying to accomplish with those 6 approaches, holding and tracking courses every 6 months, and the ramifications not only to yourself but those unwitting people on the ground just living their usual lives. There’s no shame in evaluating legal minimums vs personal minimums and making a new plan and going somewhere else.