Originally Posted by
henra
Honest question: Do you see any indication in this pattern (from level flight to -5000fpm at 150kts+ in 15s) which would indicate anything else other than LOC (in the extended sense that it was not so much a mechanical loss of control but a loss of spatial orientation, aka incipient 'Graveyard Spiral')?
Yeah LOC is most likely IMHO. I am not as convinced as some on the CFIT narrative. Flying instruments is not that tricky given wx was anticipated, entry was at stable cruise and he had a good attentive scan to gain IMC rating. Didn't we all fly IMC in the pea soup as a teenager using steam gauges. Caveat is I am a fixed winger, is it a world of difference in a rotary?
The CFIT case is hard to imagine, choosing a descent into worse fog and mountains being the preferred option over a climb into relative safety and staying ahead of the a/c. In extremis the PF is at one with their equipment, game face is on and social factors are not even on the radar.