Originally Posted by
Helisweet
Good theory, scud running must be done around 30/40 kts to avoid cloud
Like everything in life...it depends. If I'm scooting along at 600' agl under an overcast but the viz is pretty good, then a speed higher than 40 knots might be okay. Not far behind Kobe's pilot, Van Nuys Airport was calling their vis 2.5. So here's the judgment call. Maybe he felt that 130 knots was acceptable. Should he have slowed down? Apparently, while he was following "the 101" (as Californians like to call their roads), he came upon a little ridgeline that was cut (excavated) so the 101 could pass through. Or maybe the terrain features were such that there was a little narrow passageway between the hills and that's where they decided the road should go. Whatever. On the other (west) side of that ridgeline was a little valley. As he got into this valley is where we see the sudden left turn begin - where he departed from following the highway. My theory is that this is where he punched-in and decided to turn around instead of committing to an IFR flight.. Again, at 60 or 70 or even 80 knots...maybe no problem. But a turn at 130 knots? That takes up a LOT of real estate.