Mark Haechler
Seattle Center
Al Passero
Seattle Center
Matt Dippé
Seattle Center
16
On the evening of November 1, 2014, a Cessna Skyhawk
departed on an IFR flight plan from Klamath Falls airport
en route to Boeing Field airport. The aircraft was making a
return flight, having flown a VFR flight that turned into an IFR
flight earlier in the day. The pilot was unable to maintain VFR
and flew into icing conditions, but did not have to declare an
emergency.
On the return flight, however, the pilot ran into more trouble,
including icing, downdrafts, terrain, and deviating from his
course. Mark Haechler, a trainee at the time, was assisting
the pilot before conditions deteriorated too much. As the
pilot continued having problems controlling the airplane, Al
Passero and Matt Dippé both came to assist him in getting
the pilot to land safely.
Haechler: N48E, report leaving 8,800.
N3048E: Uh, we are actually still at 8,500, so we will inform
you when we leave 8,800, 48E.
Haechler: N48E, I'm showing you, ah, actually in a descent.
I did show you at 8,600. Now I show you out of 8,400.
N3048E: Yeah, I think we were getting some downdrafts
there. We're trying our best to get it up, 48E.
Haechler: N48E, I need you to expedite your climb to 10,000
for terrain.
The trio declared an emergency and quickly began working
together to help the pilot out of the inclement weather. The
aircraft could not climb, so Haechler turned the pilot back
towards lower terrain and Klamath Falls airport. Passero
suggested one approach that the aircraft was already close
to, but the aircraft was not DME equipped and therefore did
not have the approach plate. Haechler, Passero, and Dippé
quickly moved on to an alternate plan.
N3048E: Still getting some downdrafts, unable to climb.
Can you give us some vectors around the terrain, please,
48E?
Haechler: N48E, uh, you are below my terrain and unable
to climb, I am now declaring this an emergency. Turn right
heading 0-2-0 for, uh, terrain.
