Originally Posted by
positiverate20
Yes I agree entirely. It's chilling in a way... the old saying, in IMC a VFR pilot has only got 3 minutes to survive. This pilot requested descent to return to VMC.
I disagree. Night VFR request good skills of instrument flying. The pilot and the aircaft had everything to cross safely the showers line level through the clouds.
Trying to keep clear of the clouds means putting A/P off, turning and banking, which increases the risk of spatial disorientation. Had the pilot be asleep with autopilot, the aircraft would probably have reached Cardiff by itself...