Thursday 14^th saw another tragic accident that may have been avoided if the low cost en-route IMC rating - promised by CASA for so long - was available for the non-commercial pilots

From the TV images of the accident that occurred just to the west of Archerfield indicates the NSW Lightning Ridge based Cessna 182 shed its wings in flight before spearing into the ground

Of the million or so light aircraft in the world this "wing clapping" phenomenon only appears to happen here in South East Queensland

Why has there been a delay of over 20 years by the aviation bureaucracy for a low cost en-route instrument rating when the facts are so glaringly obvious!

In early 1996 there was a C182 lost in a similar configuration north of Bundaberg and shortly after a PA28R apparently fell apart in the cruise when south of Bundaberg

Then there was a Corby Starlet shedding a wing about a year later south west of Gatton

And this one makes it number 4 over the last 3 years for this type of accident - all occurring here in the southeast corner of Queensland!

Valuable lives needlessly lost by the indecision of those in power who appear to know little about what is required for the safety of all who fly in both large and small aircraft

The recent QANTAS B747-400 accident at Bangkok Airport indicates that the real life situation is very different to what is practised in simulated exercises

Click on the image for an enlarged view of the starboard side VIP upper lounge escape hatch with the end of the passenger escape chute deployed onto a tree top several metres above the ground!

• The human decision making process while piloting an aircraft can sometimes fail to appreciate the dangers involved of flying in conditions beyond the capabilities of the pilot in both the light and heavy aircraft