Originally Posted by
MotCap
..........
We can speculate about the how and why this unfortunate accident occurred, but I would bet the farm the NTSB report of Probable Cause will read simply, as it did in the March 29, 2001 crash of the Gulfstream-III, N303GA at Aspen, CO:
PROBABLE CAUSE The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the flight crew's operation of the airplane below the minimum descent altitude without an appropriate visual reference for the runway.
They may have difficulty in only doing that with the published call out of 'runway in sight'. Some explanation will need to be put forward for that call.
"What Do you Need?
When you are on an instrument approach, the regulations (14 CFR 91.175(c)(3)) state that you may descend below MDA or DH only if:
The aircraft is continuously in a position allowing for normal rate of descent to a landing on the intended runway;
The flight visibility is at or above the visibility required to complete the approach; and
At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
- The approach light system, except that you may not descend below 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation using the approach lights as a reference unless the red terminating bars or the red side row bars are also distinctly visible and identifiable
- The threshold.
- The threshold markings;
- The threshold lights;
- The runway end identifier lights;
- The visual approach slope indicator;
- The touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings;
- The runway or runway markings;
- The runway lights."