There are reports of an airplane down at KMEM this afternoon, but the initial information is sparse at best. They say that it was a "small plane" and a GA flight with 4 on board at around 4:15 PM. There is a P32R on flightaware at 4 PM.
Last time I went in there I was cleared for 36C and then they side stepped me to 36R on final. I was in there with FedEx and some other airlines. I was not sure why they were mixing me up with them, but switched me pretty close in. I did even have time to switch my ILS freqs. I always dial in ILS freqs even on visuals for parallel runways just to be sure.
It begs to question if something like that happened to him and he got distracted or disoriented.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2009 09:38AM by George Cumbee.
Ceilings may have been very, very low about that time. I was about 50 miles southeast at that time, and the ceilings were on the loose order of 150-200 feet. Don't know what they were at KMEM.
JimC
George, You can rule out a side step to a different runway during an ILS App with 300/1 in mist.
I noted on Flighaware that his altitude was level at 200 ft for over 15 minutes on final approach. It that's accurate looks like it might have been a botched instrument approach.
After seeing the conditions I agree now that it sounds like a case of either skill(or lack thereof) or experience level. Those are way below my minimums. I would be going to the alternate. This will be one that will be curious to hear the cause.
If he was talking to the tower as it was reported, then would they not have seen on their active radar that he was lined up to 18C and not 18L?
I am betting he broke out and realized the error and got flustered or disoriented in the transition to visual.
Very sad...
George Cumbee
Classic Aviation LLC
N20RN Turbo Arrow III
Metro Flyers LLC
N10505 C150L
M30, KPAH
