Stillalbatross, yes you are right in that SPIFR statistics demonstrate a higher accident rate than two pilots ops. Yes, there are major advantages in having two pilots in an aeroplane. But I challenge you to think about the topic a little deeper than asserting 'fly SPIFR and die'.
Capt, It is pretty obvious that to hand fly an approach accurately, one person does the flying and the other looks at the chart and monitors the aircraft's progress. The autopilots that are fitted to the average SPIFR aircraft (Citation aside) don't come remotely close to allowing the pilot under SPIFR to do any monitoring, most of the ones I've used were only any use straight and level which is where you don't really need them. Much the same way as the further on you get in this game the better the equipment seems to get, it is ironic that the busier you get in flying the approach and missed approach the less use the autopilot appears to be.
Unfortunately you don't have to go any deeper than the fact that there is no safety net below MSA on an approach SPIFR (unless you're on radar). If you picked up Prof Reasons diagram you'd see that just by setting out SPIFR in IMC with a crappy autopilot you're lining up about 3 of the holes already. You have any problems or distractions that cause you to stray on the approach and that's the remainder lined up, here comes the accident.
The Seneca Steve was flying was well equiped...
If you seriously think that any Seneca could be considered well equipped for pax air transport ops SPIFR in any weather anywhere in NZ then you need help. You are suggesting that it is as safe climbing in that aircraft and going from A to B as it is climbing on board an Air Nelson SAAB and making the same journey. It isn\'t, it would be nice if it was, but it isn\'t.
All your bashing and bitterness isn\'t going to bring back those people.
He was very experienced, in that sort of operation in that type of aircraft
SPIFR is about as hard as it gets and most of us may have not faired any better in the same situation. All experience has proven is errors are less likely to happen.
Get off your high horse and accept that there is a mode of operating an aircraft that is considerably safer than SPIFR and we can clean up our act or this stuff is just going to keep on happening.
You make it sound like it\'s acceptable because he was experienced and the aircraft was well maintained. What about the concept that he shouldn\'t have been there in the first place?