Pilot Short Story | Into the Dark 

Hello, I'm the pilot in the video, and my actual experience was nowhere near as extreme as the simulation depicts (I had no control over how the simulation came out). During my flight, I never got to the stall horn (not even a chirp); my bank was never larger than 10 degrees, and my 2 non-pilot passengers didn't even notice anything out of the ordinary. Still, I wanted to share the story because I don't feel that, as a community, flight requirement instruments in clear VMC is something that is discussed very often. I think my experience can also provide more insight into the startle effect; I have a deeper appreciation of how trained and experienced pilots can, when they're surprised, end up doing things that are difficult to understand in retrospect. I learned to fly in the SF Bay Area, and the density of homes and roads means that night flights in good weather are not that much harder than day flights in terms of visual cues. I was not expecting that there would not be any streetlights, cars or lit homes near the KMVY airport, so I was not expecting to have to go from visual references to instruments. Even though my flight profile probably never deviated from a "normal" envelope, I thought of sharing the experience because I can imagine how the sudden loss of visual references could cause someone to react impulsively. I got my IFR rating in 2014, and it definitely helped me appreciate the situation that was developing, because a delayed or impulsive reaction could have been dangerous. Hopefully this flight presents a scenario that is not easy to anticipate and that others can benefit from.

Definitely a sobering reminder that the MC does not necessarily mean that you will have visual cues necessary to navigate by them.

That advice at the end is so important to so many of these scary situations- breathe and just fly the plane

Just by watching the clip from the passenger, the G1000 screen seemed super bright, I would recommend anyone flying evening into nighttime flights to dim your screens down. On the G1000 screen, it appeared to have a LOT of WHITE LIGHT, which is not good for the eyes transitioning for nighttime flight. Nice video, the challenges that can be brought upon in night flying from VMC to "IMC" are a real thing.

This is reminscient of JFK JR's accident. Thank God this man was a sensible, trained pilot. I think this is a great video, thanks to both.

And THIS is why night flight in the Bahamas is IFR ONLY.

I’ve got thousands of hours at night and am IFR rated and I know exactly the feeling. I’ve done medevac into the mountains at night and even just staring at a solitary PAPI knowing that it’s the only thing keeping me safe is far more unnerving than punching through mixed ice on the way to the flight levels. One piece of advice other than was given here is the G1000 is an amazing and comprehensive system… _use it to its full potential!_ If I was taking a G1000 equipped 172 to Martha’s Vineyard at night.. I would have a flight plan programmed with an approach, and I would be on autopilot flying IFR safe altitudes and procedures. If it didn’t have an autopilot or the autopilot wasn’t working or I was unfamiliar.. I’d be using the flight director and either using modes to set it (HDG, NAV, FLC , VS) or just setting it to an acceptable pitch attitude as a reminder and using ALT to make sure I wasn’t drifting from my desired altitude (it chimes at +/- 200ft). I actually did this in a 172 flying in the mountains of BC.. but it was steam gauges and VOR/NDB (the plane did not have a GPS). There’s no other way I would have done it. But good job. Remember… there is night.. and there is NIGHT!! Flying over a cityscape at night does not adequately prepare you for real NIGHT flying. Best of luck on that instrument rating. It’s invaluable even if you never file IFR.

Great video.

I was instrument rated but often flew VFR out of CGX (the former Meigs field in Chicago). When the tower issued me a turn over the lake at night to go in my desired heading, I would heavily use my instruments to make the turn until I could see the shoreline again. And that is in Chicago, with the big citys bright lights. But still no horizon at night looking out over the lake.

Black hole VFR departures are only dangerous when the pilot isn't mentally prepared for loss of visual reference. Whenever I fly in or even close in proximity to night time hours, I verbally brief the scenario along with my standard engine anomaly briefing. Verbalizing what you are going to do when you lose visual reference will make a huge impact towards preventing the startle effect.

I always use Google Earth if I'm flying to a new airport to get a lay of the land and possible elevation changes

Good job getting yourself out of a potential situation… thanks for the share…

My flight school took me to ocean city maryland airport (koxb) so I could take off from rw 14 at night Which put you right into the darkness over the Atlantic. My first time, once the runway lights were gone, it was a very overwhelming feeling, one that I'm glad I experienced my first time with an instructor next to me. I fly from kdmw to koxb often just to take off into the black just to stay in the game when I can, so I'm very familiar of the dark with no horizon on a clear night

I learned to fly up in NH and to his credit, my instructor introduced me to this fairly early so that I would be ready for when it happens unexpectedly.

Those hazy, moonless, night climb-outs into the desert alone in older planes, no AP, etc., always felt like walking a tightrope for me as a VFR guy. Sure feels like IMC since you have to trust and fly the instruments. Love night flying out here otherwise.

and that's why a constant crosscheck it's very important

Thank you,Sir, for sharing your story. I LOVE it when pilots share their personal stories. 🥰

Man figured out what a black hole is mid flight. Good job not dying.

Thank you for sharing your story!

Excellent advice given!

Thanks for the upload... safe fly everyone.

Great video. Tip: turn your screen lights down for more natural night vision

As an instrument rated pilot, it baffles me knowing to fly at night you dont need an instrument rating

Cape, Islands, coastal RI are notorious for challenging weather. Besides pilots, boaters often have difficulties especially those lacking radar. Thanks for the candid video

Yeah, you can totally be in IMC in a VFR flight.

Good advice.

I think all pilots shoukd be thrown into this scenario as part of their basic flight training. My CFI had me do dinner at PIE for my long cross country practice. We landed while it was still light out. Departure was a different story. It was a moonless night. As soon as those runway lights disappeared and the black abyss of Tampa Bay is all i could see, I scoffed, "might as well be IMC, how is this legal?" I had enough sense to throw the autopilot on, wings level, put in the desired altitude and climb rate and let it do the work. Even with the AP on, I was keeping a close eye on the steam gauges just in case the ancient K(r)AP140 decided to act up. I actually enjoyed the flight and navigating by instruments. IIRC, Canada and the Bahamas don't allow VFR flights at night due to this.

A man’s got to know his limitations

I really appreciate these.

As a VFR pilot, I’ve found it’s good practice and kind of fun to fly in those “black hole” conditions. Everything I need to do it is right in front of my face, but I have the backup safety of an auto pilot. My worries are not about flying by instruments, but include electrical failures and engine failure at night.

DDDDDDDDduck, heck I almost panic watching this video. Very well done presentation and very good lesson. No sky reference, no ground reference, you are IFR. Good advice, just breath!

Nice topic choice! I've flown to Martha's Vineyard several times over the years, and I generally time my departure to late afternoon/early evening before sunset at the latest so that it's still daylight while I'm over the ocean (I go from Maryland) just in case for search and rescue over the water, but also because of the issues exhibited in the video. I fly it IFR regardless of the weather, but I have gone out of there at night in a twin and, yeah, it is most certainly pitch black over the Atlantic. I knew that going into that flight, so I wasn't surprised that I was on instruments for the entire time along the Manta routing toward Atlantic City. And I also did a lot of sim practice before that round trip flight as well, as I had to fly the RNAV into 06 almost to minimums earlier that day as well. It's a beautiful island, a great GA airport, but you have to consider what it takes to safely fly there, so consult flight instructors or others who go there regularly before you try, depending on your experience level. I also fly there with flotation devices, including a vest that I wear, and I have a PLB on my person.

Thanks for sharing. I have found that taking off at night, especially in rural Oregon, it's IFR practice until you see lights or other visual references. This helps me not get surprised, I just expect it and treat it like IMC even though it's VFR conditions technically.

I once flew in middle of the night (vfr,) from Manassas to Ocean City airport. My plan had been to land and to navigate and let down to 700 agl using the Vor approach. That all worked fine but when I crossed the beach over the water now it was all black. I decided instantly to abandon the Landung and did a left Standard rate climbing turn back towards Martinsburg Vor and back to Manassas. The ac was a B33 with old KX 170's and no wing leveler. Going into the all black over water was pretty scary. Fortunately I had had some instrument training but could easily see that it would have been easy to lose control.

Good video. How many planes have gone down over the ocean just for that reason? Glad you trusted your instruments to get you out of it.

Not a pilot, but I grew up on the waters around Martha’s Vineyard. Taking a 12 foot boat around the island with nothing but a phone in increasingly big seas, hey, that sure is a big fog bank rolling in I better get closer to the shore, so I don’t lose my only visual reference. 20 seconds later, aaaaaaand I can’t see shit. What’s up Compass how you doing today? I told that story to say that I don’t mean this next thing in a bad way because I’ve been there. But it can be hilarious to reap the reward of the situation you’ve put yourself in. “So I went into the darkness, and suddenly I can’t see shit!” 😂

Here in South Florida night flight is 50% of the time IMC. Highly recommend to fly IFR in night flights

Raised flying New England with many flights into the Vineyard, Block Island etc. Conditions can catch you off guard quickly. Thing I find strange is all my flying was on a six pack and the transition was never difficult. I wonder if anyone has studied this with glass panels? Do they delay the transition back onto instrument's especially with unusual attitudes. Would like to see the research if there is any.

It may just be the video. However, it appears you had the instrument backlighting extremely bright.

This is why my rule of thumb is IFR at night

Better learn to know the incline of runways and surroundings too. You have to maintain a high rate of climb in some areas even to avoid contacting the airfield. Clipping the ground isn't a good thing.

Very lucky to have the right reaction before getting in a stall/spin who would be catastrophic. So many people died and will die flying at night because they have no knowledge of problems related to night flying. Lack of training and knowledge to identify the risk before take-off.

Sad to have seen this actual accident that has some similarities to my experience: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5_Q1GHMXEJg.html. The words of Rich McSpadden at from the 5:50 mark to 6:25 are so important. That was a 1,200-hour pilot with commercial and instrument ratings. Most VFR into IMC scenarios involve some type of weather, but I hope we can build awareness to the black-hole, whiteout and desert-related scenarios.

I’m not a pilot and therefore know little about this stuff - other than being another RU-vid expert. And that pilot was there and I wasn’t. But did it occur to anyone else that this fellow was in the middle of wrecking his plane when he happened to glimpse the lights ashore? Of course I’m not saying this is what happened. But the thought did cross my mind.

It is just that easy.

I’m familiar with the issue of taking off over water at night, but are there popular GA airports where there may be a similar effect taking off over an empty desert, forest or similar without lights?

I never understood how it's legal to fly VFR at night in the US. Sure some nights are great, but some nights you can see nothing. How is it legal to put oneself in a situation where it's not reasonable to expect oneself to be able to remain VFR? Very confusing to me. I've only flown at night once during my training because a night dual cross-country is a requirement, but even though that night happened to be great I could easily see how someone could fly into an invisible cloud even on a relatively bright night. Really confused about this.

This location made me think of JFK Jr and his horrible predicament. Rip

May we all seek God!

Pilot: I don’t suppose that you have ever heard of John F. Kennedy Junior’s fateful flight in that same area. Dah! Why in the world did you not plan for your return take off to be 90 minutes sooner/before dusk???

🙏 "Promo sm"

Thanks for sharing. Simple solution to this. Ban night VFR in the US. It's sort of fine somewhere flat and well lit like Florida but utterly daft in numerous other parts of the US.

Thanks for sharing, but turn down the brightness on your screens! And invert black background. Holy cow! White light is the last thing you want flying at night. You exacerbated the problem.

Wow, staring right at the pitch-up indicator with decreasing airspeed and he still didn’t react? I think this pilot should go back to re-do IFR training, not sure how he passed in the first place.