Sure “Ross Island was obscured by cloud.” What prospector omits to mention is that it was clear below the cloud.
One report was from the C141 flying at 16,000 feet and above the cloud layer. Of course Ross Island was obscured by cloud
for them.
Find the complete C141 report and it says
” …….. We began descent and entered cloud immediately. The cloud cover appeared to be cumulus or stratocumulus and we encountered only light rime icing and light turbulence. Between 12,500 feet and 11,000 feet we passed between cloud layers. We broke out of the cloud base at about 5,000 feet; visibility beneath the ceiling was good. We landed at McMurdo at 2.52pm.
Another report was from the C130 inbound from the west northwest.
“there was a continuous stratiform layer covering Ross Island with cloud “domes” over Mt Erebus and Mt Terror concealing them from view. A lenticular cap cloud lay over Mt Erebus above the main cloud layer. Visibility was good below the main cloud base, but surface definition was poor.
There were photographs taken by the passengers only second before impact which showed the “wing rock” event and the eastern shoreline of Cape Bird and the eastern and northwestern shoreline of Lewis Bay. These also showed a cloud layer with a base around 2,000 feet above unbroken snow.
Visibility to the sides was not a problem – it was the sector whiteout dead ahead that was the fatal trap.
It was conclusively proved at Mahon’s inquiry that the aircraft was flying in clear air right up to impact.
Some more points to ponder;
The airline claimed that Collins had been briefed that the track was over Mt Erebus.
Ignore for a moment the evidence of the other pilots at Collins’ briefing who said in effect “ That’s BS”, and the evidence about Collins drawing a track on his atlas down the middle of McMurdo sound .
The peak of Mt Erebus is about 20 nm from Mc Murdo. Collins locked the aircraft onto the NAV track after completing his orbits and descent. They were still engaged on the NAV track when Collins said “Were 26 miles north, we’ll have to climb out of this.”
If Collins (or anyone else on the flight deck) believed the NAV track was taking them over Mt Erebus, and here they were at 1500 feet with less than 10 miles to run pointing straight at a 12,450 foot mountain they would have to be bloody suicidal.
When questions at the enquiry about why Collins put the aircraft in this position of danger, Chippindale replied that he had given the matter careful consideration, and Collins must have been suddenly afflicted by some medical or psychological malady which made him oblivious to the mortal danger looming in front of him. When it was pointed out that this must have simultaneously happened to everyone else present on the flight deck, and was patently an absurd proposition his credibility suffered badly.
Once again the only conclusion to make is that the crew believed they were flying down the middle of McMurdo sound and never saw Mt Erebus.