Originally Posted by
Lead Balloon
A pdf copy of the whole NTSB investigation report is available here.
If the base of the IMC had been granite rather than clear air in that incident, the Monday Morning Quarterbacks would be asking why the pilot didn’t transmit a mayday and pull the chute.
I think you should reread that report. Page 18 is especially pertinent.....
It appeared that the pilot's radio call about having deployed the parachute comes near the apex of a very steep climb