My VFR Flight into 12 Seconds of IMC TERROR returning home in my newly purchased Dakota

[@theVRpilot]

Ben glad you were able to land asap. I’m an ATC at KMIA with 11 years experience in tower and Radar. let me be very clear, NEVER be afraid to ask for help, assistance, let us know the weather is deteriorating and you need vectors back or to an area with better visibility and weather. Don’t be afraid declare an emergency either. I think pilots are afraid to ask for help or say they are in a bad place but we are there to help. We have a lot of equipment at our disposals that we can literally look up from our radar scope and see weather for at least 5-10 airports depending on the facility. We can ask for pireps from other VFR on or frequency to get you there. Let ATC know weather is deteriorating and ask them how the route looks ahead we’ll give you some feedback. Also, I’m not sure but unless that’s a low traffic area, he says he has no further VFR traffic for you says, no one else for one reason or another is flying in that low vis weather you know? My ears perked up when he said that, but it might also be a low traffic area. Also realize ATC gave you his MVA, minimum vectoring altitude which was 1600’ and advised it was broken ahead at 1400’. I have planes go low on me, and that’s fine I just advise the further they get from me I might lose radio coms. We get a lot of student pilots and new pilots in South Florida and or weather is mostly VFR, but I’ve had some scary calls of pilots calling me lost IMC. Scariest few transmissions of my career but I was able to help the pilots. Good luck and be safe!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

THANK YOU for your encouragement, information and valued advice. The ATC person I dealt with realized very quickly that I was getting myself into trouble. He was unbelievably helpful and reassuring during the ordeal. Furthermore, after landing, I received a call from ATC asking if we were safely on the ground. This was emotionally overwhelming and my voice was breaking when I thanked them again and again for their help. You guys at ATC are really the heroes in the skies that deserve more credit then you currently get for rescuing pilots like me. Let me say this again, THANK YOU ATC for keeping us safe.

[@whfrederickiii]

theVRpilot: There is a culture in aviation that causes pilots to be afraid to ask for help for fear they will get in trouble, and I think it is a huge problem. That some how needs to be fixed. I wish the FAA would work up some outreach programs that would help change the culture. Wouldn't it be great if a pilot could put in ADS-B that they are VFR only or IFR Single Pilot so ATC could have an understanding of capability? They could warn VFR only pilots of what they are heading into. What doesn't help is ATC guys with a tone in their voice the they are ready to rip a pilot's head off at any moment.

[@theVRpilot]

​@@whfrederickiii Walt I completely agree. Having a PPL is a privileged but I also feel it is a privilege to help and be a part of your journey as you are flying and work the other side of the radio guiding you home. I understand that people are reluctant to admit they are in a bad spot or need help with fear that maybe they have done something wrong or it can get them in trouble. I work with many people who absolute love what they do, do their best job daily to help ALL pilots VFR/IFR, student or not to get to their destinations but I do know those that you are referring too that rip a pilots head off for simple things. I worked with someone for 3 years who would unkey and complain about every pilot he spoke about, I told him hey man, for the last 45 minutes you have been complaining, so either everyone on the frequency is an idiot or are you the idiot? lol. He stopped huffing and puffing for the remainder of our shift, but deep inside its his personality. Some controllers are more intense then others. We in part work a thankless job in which we have to keep everyone separated, move IFR traffic in and out of Busy class B/C airspaces while dodge VFR air work aerial mapping request, while dodging storms, etc etc etc etc and at times, when a controller has to repeat themselves over and over, and then you get stepped on, and incorrect readbacks (which if you read it back wrong and I dont catch it its my fault as well as a pilot deviation) so we are constantly managing the stress of getting everyone to where they want and staying level headed. I also work with a few controllers who never get upset and have a deep passion and excitement for aviation and enjoy flying themselves. They understand the pressure, the stress and needs that new GA VFR pilots have. Empathy is the key word for me. I like the IDEA of having ADS-B show VFR only, or IFR single pilot. On our end it could show a character to symbolize one or the other when we click on the target or print its flight progress strip. Controllers are human too, even the grumpiest controller will help in time of need, never be afraid to ask, and ill continue to tell my peers to calm down! lol

[@royhsieh4307]

i never trust vfr in florida. the weather changes its mind quite often lol

[@theVRpilot]

@@royhsieh4307 so true! You have to be careful!

[@kentmurri]

Please practice limiting cockpit distractions. Have your alternate airport(s) preplanned so you're not fumbling when you need to divert in deteriorating conditions. Right at the moment you said you were going to "Continue" you were focused on the iPad and I'm assuming loading the alternate into a GPS, learn the nearest function! Way too distracted and the wall of overcast right in front of you didn't register, the decision to divert should've occurred long before you encountered a low overcast.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Kent, you are absolutely right. Thank you for your suggestions .

[@MacMcCardle]

First off man, thanks for putting this up so people can see just how damn fast you can get yourself into a loooot of trouble. When you found yourself in a bad space you got out of it safely, so well done there too, can't ever take that away from you. It's too easy to comment from the comfort of a chair especially when you're not having to contend with the stress of actually handling the machine, but I will say depending on how and where you train the concept of decision points is one we shouldn't forget. As another pilot mentioned, the weather didn't find you, you found the weather.The whole time you're getting forced lower and lower with no end in sight, this is when you should be thinking about that diversion or landing until the wx improves. Have that hard stop ready if it's not better in 5nm we ARE diverting. Like I said, it's so easy to see that from your comfy spot at home so I am really glad you took the opportunity to share this to show people just how important those decisions points are. If you get the point where you think "Ah, I should have diverted" it's too late for that option to safely do so. Also, critically, when you enter IMC you enter a +1000fpm climb INTO the IMC, entering at about 1200ft, climbing almost 300ft to 1500ft before exiting again at 1200ish ft - a real lesson on the disorientation in unexpected IMC. As soon as you get into that IMC you can no longer fly VFR, get on instruments and trust them, if you hadn't broken out of cloud quickly I am not certain you'd have had the altitude to recover from the disorientation. As soon as you entered IMC visibility reduced immediately. Looking over your shoulder won't show you a horizon or clear sky. Check that heading, rate 1 turn to the recip heading and fly it S&L until clear. You know the weather behind you is good. Don't search for it, you'll only end up disoriented. I'm glad you took the time to post, I hope people learn. I know I did and will be still mindful of decision making pts etc. Safeflying.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Kenny, thank you for your constructive feedback and recommendations to enter and exit IMC. You are absolutely right, I saw and still flew into bad weather. I should have made the decision to divert at least 15 minutes earlier, which would have prevented this dangerous situation. At least, there two good things that came out of it: 1). We are still alive 2). We had a great unplanned trip to Louisiana - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/epKwo5SqZdKem9U But all kidding aside, thank you very much again for taking time and providing me with great feedback and education.

[@williamfahle151]

It took courage to post this video. It curled my toes to watch you fly into IMC. I hope you keep this video up even though you might get some harsh criticism. It's valuable for other pilots to see how fast it happens when scud running. But even when you get an instrument rating, there will still be times you will need to divert, and those will be far scarier.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for your encouraging comments. I have no plans to remove this video.

[@Jolt44L]

Oof! Lots going on in this flight. A new aircraft, busy (class B) airspace, unfamiliar territory, non-pilot passenger, deteriorating weather... Good decision to get on the ground! Should the decision have been made sooner? Sure. It was clear to viewers that you were in over your head. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t tested some limits in my first 100-200 flight hours (and I probably still do). Thank you for sharing. We can all learn something about our limitations as pilots.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I agree 100%. I should have been on the ground much, much sooner. Thank you for watching and your constructive criticism.

[@joer.824]

Good Video, I recently obtained my IR. I'm sure you do great with IR training. Don't let these negative comments get to you. Sure, you could have made some better choices earlier in the flight. However, as nervous as you were, you flew the plane and made it back on the ground safely. And I am sure you learned from that experience which is what really matters. Fly Safe!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Joe, thank you for your comments and encouragement.

[@bogota909]

Wish kobes pilot had the presence of mind to land before weather got worst ....rip to the victims respect for landing and being smart

[@GrowinAlaska]

Speaking as a 10,000 hour, west coast of Alaska pilot, the soup didn’t surround you, you flew into it. Something to remember, if you can see the ground, you are 99.9% less likely to experience “uncontrolled flight into terrain”. You could see it (clouds, weather) coming for miles in the video yet didn’t recognize it. That is where more experience, preferable with an experienced flight instructor (that’s an instructor who has actually had a job for a few years flying in said conditions, not just a ticket) would help you greatly. I’m not a great writer and not trying to belittle you, just don’t want you or your passengers to get hurt. Find an experienced instructor and fly a few sessions in true, marginal conditions. Not so you can push the envelope but just so you can recognize and avoid a bad situation before it happens. Otherwise, great job of recognizing he current situation and admitting it was time to land. Good Flying!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for your input and advice. You are right, I should have recognized the danger much earlier and turn back sooner. I actually do have about 20 hours of flying in real IFR conditions with Captain Doron who is the greatest CFII ever. My time and training with Doron kicked in and saved my rear this time. I'm currently studying for the IFR knowledge test. Happy Flying!

[@sinestro4292]

Alaska Grown hey man where do you fly out of? I fly for a company out of Nome!

[@cherokee592]

That's exactly what I thought. I flew VFR for 500 hours before I got my IFR .., and not even once touched a cloud. It's all about DECISIONS

[@GrowinAlaska]

I flew out of Bethel in the 90’s and 2000’s, plus last summer. Was gonna fly again this summer but a new pilot at Yute Commuter crashed yesterday, killing himself and 4 passengers. Probably the end of the company. And, knowing the area and prevailing wx, I would bet he got into IFR conditions and didn’t recognize it until it was too late. An Instrument ticket did???

[@GrowinAlaska]

Cherokee 592, Decisions AND awareness. In my experience that awareness comes from hands on,,,,,experience. Which is why I recommended getting a TRULY experienced instructor and taking a few flight in TRULY marginal conditions.🙂

[@ahmadsamadzai8255]

This is several years old, so I'm sure you are a better pilot now. Planning a flight well is as important, if not more important than the actual flight. When you take a trusting passenger with you, it becomes 1000 times more important for you to be competent and well prepared for all phases of the flight. If you aren't, then please go out there alone. Sorry if this is too harsh. Thanks for sharing this.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Ahmad thank you for watching and your constructive critique. I couldn't agree more with your assessment. I'm currently training for my IFR rating. Happy & Safe Flying!

[@ljmills3847]

Thank you for sharing. Great decision in the end. I would of however turned around a long time ago. You can see those clouds coming with lots of warning. Stay safe.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for commenting.

[@richardlafford1397]

Good job making the turn and escaping the VMC to IMC trap. I would much rather have seen you referencing the instruments during the turn than looking out the right hand side. If you don't plan to start IFR training right away, I suggest you at least get some actual IFR time with a rated CFII and maybe use a home flight simulator to crank up your instrument scan. Best wishes for a long and safe flying career.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Richard, thank you for your advice. I did practice with a CFII in real IFR conditions about 1 year ago for about 19 hours. However, getting caught in it after not doing it for 1 year illustrated to me the importance of attaining IFR ASAP and practicing it often. Thanks again for taking time to respond and providing valuable feedback.

[@j.a8678]

Doesn't matter if you're in ground effect, keep your hand on that throttle! You never know if you're going to need to to around.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Got it. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@artkingofwholefoods74]

Love how the earpieces are put on the dash. Awesome flight Captain... 👊🏼🔥👊🏼

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@practicalintuition4030]

I was watching his instrument panel the whole time he was in the glass of milk, and he kept rolling further and further on his right. I felt like I was watching the beginning of his graveyard spin. I was also very relieved when he came out of it. Thank god for your safety.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Well, I was making a 180 degree turn, but I understand where you're coming from. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@raidazz1]

Great to see a real video of your experience.. You did the right thing in the end which was to be cautious and not take risks. Good on you

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Jay, thank you for your encouragement.

[@raidazz1]

@@TheRealAviatorBen as a fellow aviator I know what it's like to get lulled into a situation like that especially when you're a low time pilot. The best thing is you will learn from that experience and I guarantee you will never to it again.. That's why they call it experience.. Inevitably you did the right thing and and more importantly the SAFE thing. Safe aviating my friend.. May you have clear sky's and smooth winds.. Blue side up always..

[@smflyboy]

You did the right thing. Good pilots make good decisions and that is what you did when it became clear that you might have a problem, and it may have saved your lives. Glad you guys made it safely!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank so much for watching and your kind words. I appreciate your support. Fly safe!

[@DannyCal]

Glad you made it out. literally seconds from disaster!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Absolutely, thank you for your comments.

[@humanfactorswithpaulgarth9596]

What I'm also seeing is 11:21 - head-in-side-cockpit. I've done this as well, while on flight-following from TOA to MYF -- on a weather-briefed days I was convinced it was clear with no clouds... Standard rate 180 and return to airport - scared the hell out of me. You are to be congratulated for having Rosy return commercial and you with a second pilot. That's what I call, "Pilot in Command".

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for sharing your similar story.

[@humanfactorswithpaulgarth9596]

@@TheRealAviatorBen I just noticed you mentioned Farmingdale somewhere. I did my entire PPL out of Bayport (23N) - what a riot that was, on turf. Continued success in 2020.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@humanfactorswithpaulgarth9596 Turf? Unbelievable. I did my PPL in Farmingdale. Thank you for commenting and happy flying.

[@jgnderitu]

Watching this 4 years later 1. Thank you for posting this. It is a lesson to all of us as to how quickly it can happen. 2. Happy to hear you got your instrument rating. I hope you are practising to stay proficient, and I wish you many more safe flying hours. Again, thanks for sharing it. It is brave to share your mistake so that all of us can learn from it.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

That incident 4 years ago sure scared me. It made up my mind to get my instrument rating later on. Thank you for watching and your kind words.

[@jeffkeil1595]

Glad you survived this potential NTSB report. If you want to see if you're at the same level as clouds bend down to eye level with the instrument panel then look at the clouds. If the clouds are above your instrument panel you're going to fly under the clouds. If the clouds are even with the panel you're going to fly into the clouds.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Jeff, thank you for the tip.

[@jeffkeil1595]

@@TheRealAviatorBen you welcome.

[@Hedgeflexlfz]

That's what I noticed too, you could see you were heading into the clouds. They were basically at your level when you looked out of the windscreen.

[@videoman876]

A lot of people let great comments. Glad you has enough sense to land the plane with your wife on board who trust you with her life. One thing I have to say about this video. Fly the plane first. Don't worry about ATC. You are the one in the situation not them. Aviate, navigate and communicate last in this type of situation.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Well said! Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@bengoldshlager8491]

A great lesson for us all that bad weather can sneak up on you if you don't pay attention nor check it before takeoff. Thanks for sharing Ben.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Very true!

[@stealhty1]

180 turn could be a quick answer ,IMC is not a monster be there and be prepared ,,,Yess ATC will be happy to help in all our needs

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Agreed. It took me awhile, but since then I got my IFR rating. I learned my lesson. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@martinbeyer1415]

When you touched cloudes at 1300 ft, why the hell did you climb further up ti 1470 ft ?

[@deyviasks7154]

i believe he was doing his 180 turn which pushed him up a little bit maybe wrong angle/speed but at least the man made the late BUT right decision of turning around and heading the hell back lol

[@johnmeye]

Wow, you were given a second chance-One of the lucky ones.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Definitely got a 2nd chance. Having said that, I'm now studying for my IFR knowledge test. Thank you for you commenting.

[@AllenPortman]

Many years ago while doing my PPL training which I live on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and conditions where weather can deteriorate quickly going from clear sunny day to a low overcast with towering thunderstorms. During a return trip back to my home-base from an airport I had flown to approx 100 miles away. During the trip back the weather begin to deteriorate with a low-cloud ceiling started developing ahead and eventually behind me too. I kept flying lower and lower to remain VR scud running trying to get back to my airport. For a brief period cloud bases seemed to be break up with significant openings occurred -- broken clouds. Flying anywhere from 500' down to 250' trying to stay VR but not sure about obstacles could lie ahead I wanted more altitude. I knew where I was geographically so remaining VR, I went though a significant hole in the clouds for more altitude --- then the worst happened broken clouds closed creating a solid layer which I was now caught above with no cloud breaks anywhere. I could feel anxiety and panic trying to take-over, so I contacted Houston approach which they were able to calm ne down and helped get me back to the airport which ended up being marginal VR! Of course landed okay! Trust me I was shaking from head to toe! From that day forward if there were any inkling of weather --- I didn't fly. Now I am thinking about doing my instrument.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Wow, thank you for sharing. That's was my thinking as well, however, it took me more than 2 years before I started my IFR training due to life getting in the way. In any case, I passed my IFR checkride 2 months ago and I used it to fly to Canada and back. It sure came in handy. Have a look at my recent videos to see what IMC flying was really like for a new IFR pilot.

[@vincentcarbonara3589]

Thanks for posting this. Never have been in IMC and now can see how easy for someone to get into this. Good job with the diversion. Looks like you made the right call.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Vincent, yes it's really easy to get yourself into one, especially on long cross country flights. I almost had another one on my longest flight ever that I just completed from KLDJ New Jersey to KLNA Flordia and back. I'll be posting this video sometime this week. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@VMCAviationVideos]

I didn't watch the video, but how the heck dose somebody fly inadvertently into IMC?!? I have a few thousand hours under my belt, but never ran inadvertently into IMC, for some reason I always saw what was in front of me.

[@robajohnson]

He was being handed off and had his eys on the radios for several seconds (far too long). Don't act as if you have never been heads down far longer than you should have been. Right? RIGHT?

[@DZ-rg7jt]

@@robajohnson that is the dumbest excuse I've heard. He may have been looking down to switch a radio for several seconds, for how long before he got to that point could he see the cloud layer. Rediculous to make excuses for this clown who is just using this as click bait.

[@robajohnson]

​@@DZ-rg7jt LOL! 1) Who made excuses? Understanding what went *wrong* is how you get better. 2) While it is clickbait it seems to be even stronger virtue signaler bait. 3) I know that over my 29 years of flying I have screwed up plenty. So I feel no need to boost my self-esteem by virtue signaling and preening about how awesome I am by putting others down. {shrug} To each his own but I don’t think your little pissy fit makes you look like a good pilot. Do you? 4) On that note, we all KNOW you have screwed the pooch before and if you deny it we all know you either have 5 hours or you are a MASSIVE liar on top of your other obvious faults (virtue signaling and throwing little temper tantrums) So climb on down off your high horse-- You ain't fooling anyone. Look at the post from @alaska grown below. That is how it's done. Live and learn

[@FairladyS130]

A non pilot here ( inadequate visual depth perception meant no pilot's license for me) a few of these sorts of videos come up on my feed and mostly the situation doesn't look too bad, perhaps videos show visibility to be clearer than it is. Then there are the modern aids available which if used should give very useful situation information. The problem often seems to be that once some visibility is lost the stress levels rise and exaggerate the potential danger, easy to say that from the comfort of a grounded chair I know but that is my perception. My amateurs' comment would be when flying not to look outside all the time but scan the instruments regularly and absorb their messages. Learn to rely on them 100%

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching and commenting. You may not know this, however, as a VFR private pilot you are supposed to rely mainly on visual queues. Therefore, when you loose visual references your anxiety level goes way up. The solution for it is to get your IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rating, which as you rightly eluded to, trains the pilot to rely 100% on his/her instruments. That's what I did a couple of years later if you care to see my last few videos. Thanks again for taking time to comment.

[@FairladyS130]

@@TheRealAviatorBen Explanation appreciated although I still think that for VFR navigation instruments at least should be paid some attention

[@guyrandom1]

Good job at realizing the situation could be overwhelming, even when questioned by your passenger and not having get there itis

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you Brook for watching and commenting. I appreciate it.

[@bradyoder5899]

Sweet bird! The Dakota should make a decent IFR platform for you. I am a Dakota owner as well and love the UL and power. Brad

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Yes, I love the plane, although I find it a bit of a challenge to start in cool days. Thank you for your feedback.

[@bradyoder5899]

@@TheRealAviatorBen mine likes 4 primes...fuel pump for 5 seconds then off...pump throttle 2x then once you hit the key set rpm to 1000-1200. When its warm I omit the prime.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@bradyoder5899 Thank you Brad, I'll give it a go next time I fly my bird.

[@william8654]

Get instrument rated ASAP please. Too many inexperienced pilots in the air right now.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Absolutely, I'm currently working on my IFR knowledge test. Thank you for watching and your feedback.

[@william8654]

Believe me, Even when you are trained it can be difficult in prolonged lower altitude no visibility conditions to believe your instruments. Watch the Air France crash video. The pilots could not tell they were descending. Good luck!

[@robajohnson]

Someone did not read the description before posting! ;)

[@Gamerboy-gy1rl]

@@william8654 447? They knew they were descending but they didn't know why 447 has nothing to do with this

[@william8654]

Been flying for 27 years my friend.

[@jiggajosh80]

Love the editing

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you

[@lockedin60]

Good job of getting down safely. You stayed calm, took a course of action, made the decision to land and lived to tell us about it. Not a pilot just an aviation enthusiast. I think my age and circumstances will not allow me to earn a ppl.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

James, thank you for watching and your encouragement. Let me tell you, age shouldn't be a barrier to get your PPL unless you are over 85 🤓 IMHO. I myself, started my 1st lesson 2.5 years ago.

[@lockedin60]

@@TheRealAviatorBen I will not go into all my circumstances. But currently on SS-DI. Once September of next year hits I can earn unlimited income. But we are not promised tomorrow either. I just have a lot of hope!

[@BradNewton]

Geez!!! and you held your breath for 12 seconds too... I start my instrument rating in 2 weeks. How did you edit the instrument overlay in the video?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Yes, 12 very long seconds :). I use Garmin Ultra 30 that has great templates for these overlays. Please subscribe if you liked the video.

[@kilianbrech3860]

Dude, once you train and learn to trust your instruments and engine and system gauges. Imc is fun and safe to encounter. (Obviously not when in known icing or encounter icing) i have around 200 hours with 7 in actual imc and its a challenge but fun especially when you shoot an approach like you trained for.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@kilianbrech3860 Sounds good. Thank you for your comments.

[@1compaqedr8]

VFR = 1000 above 500 below clouds right?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Absolutely correct. Looking at it now I realized how distracted I was in the cockpit, which didn't help matters. In hindsight, I should have turned around 15 minutes earlier and land. A great lesson for me and hopefully to others. Thank you for commenting.

[@rjason182]

Once I got my instrument rating, 99% of my missions are a "go". I regularly fly from Cape Cod to south Florida and back. You'll love flying in the IFR system and it's alot safer on many levels.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Working on it as we speak... Thank you for commenting.

[@Handotr]

I liked and subscribed. I love a Cherokee! I fly a Cherokee 180D.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you and happy flying.

[@lonniehardy3985]

Very interesting -- So, please tell me ( not a pilot) what you would do differently if you were making the exact trip under the exact conditions ?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I would land at least 20 minutes earlier in another airport once I saw the condition deteriorating. See me latest video where I applied this lesson. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bauWk3trnaiLrpo Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@mikebreen2890]

Wow!

[@mwash5779]

Great job, man my stomach was turning a bit watching that....

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Mine too 😎 Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@ILikeTuwtles]

Just remember, if you ever end up VFR into IMC for any reason, the easiest way to save your own life is to simply perform a 180 degree turn.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Understood. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@robertg5393]

Thanks for sharing, Ben. KUDOS to the approach controller at 8:03 - he was REALLY helpful.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

You are welcome Robert and yes the controller was very helpful. Thank you for watching and for your comments.

[@StefAnimation]

Hey Ben, that was real scary to look at glad you got out ok, was wondering if you got that IFR rating?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Life got in the way, i.e., losing Rosy's son, moving to Florida, etc. My updated goal is to pass the written test this year. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@philibertorodrigo7118]

As a helicopter guy… when tower makes a suggestion to fly at a certain altitude due to a cloud deck… you take it. MSA + 100 is usually a good alt for us VFR folk. Watching the mistakes this guy made hurts me.I hope he has learned a valuable lesson and even more I hope he has gotten some Instruments and an IFR rating

[@bknightone]

Maybe she can help with the writing part ? Safe flight

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@bknightone Sorry, did I misspelled something? Thank you for watching and safe flight to you as well.

[@noneofyourbusiness5074]

Thanks for uploading the video! in aviation we have to learn from other people's mistake cuz you might not have a chance to learn with yours and I gotta say, my heart was pounding when you got IMC, if it wasn't stated on the title 12 seconds, I'd be desperate myself, really scary!!!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

One thing for sure, I learned that you don't mess with the weather, period! Thank you for watching and your feedback.

[@mariofachinsky5639]

Glad you made the secision to divert Ben, those ceilings were getting really bad... I recommend you to get familiar with the use of the attitude indicator, trust your instruments more than your perception in such conditions... 38 degree of bank on IMC and no IFR experience is not a healthy combination... Dont get so much sticked to your Ipad and radios, spend 90% of your time watching outside and plan in advance. Great video, good winds (and better weather!).

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you Mario for commenting and advice. Happy and safe flying to all of us.

[@davejohnson8960]

It's going to happen. It can be much worse. Train for it. You handled it very well.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Dave, thank you for watching and your encouragement.

[@PYE172]

have you got an artifcial horizon and vor and dme adf and gps in your aircraft you need it if your flying IFR

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching, however, see below requirements that do not specifically require you to have VOR, DME, ADF specifically. It depends on the approach that you'll be using, e.g., GPS, than you would need a GPS but not VOR. Thanks again for taking time to comment. GRABCARD: IFR Minimum Equipment Generator or Alternator Radio/Navigation Appropriate For Flight Attitude Indicator Ball (Inclinometer) Clock Altimeter (Pressure Sensitive) Rate of Turn Indicator Directional Gyro

[@mebeingU2]

Nice video! Wow, the soup can surround you quickly. Smart move to go back.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you. Yes, it was shockingly quick and I still get anxious watching it. Please subscribe if you liked the video.

[@tony7610]

Rosie didn’t look to happy up there. Don’t think she’ll be flying any time soon in a small private plane. Good luck with your ratings.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I asked Rosy afterwards if she was scared or concerned and to my total amazement she said she wasn't. I felt bad and still do today with reoccurring nightmares putting her in this situation. There must have been an angle up there that was looking after me and save my rear end and my dear wife's. One thing for sure, I am getting my IFR as we speak. Thank you for your comments.

[@bernardanderson7569]

That's a great start to do the Sheppard Air Online Ground school course and follow the directions and hit it hard as you can and take a few practice test skills to know the way as to get the highest score possible and when you have the opportunity to take to real exam then go get it done . I'll fly with you anytime to be a safety pilot to practice approaches afterwards

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Bernard, thank you for watching and the information you provided. Are you located near NY/NJ? I might take you up on your offer. Thanks again.

[@steveb5224]

A pilot must always know and have limitations and always have an out.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Having had this experience, I couldn't agree more with your assessment. Thank you for watching and sharing.

[@albionparrot5607]

Quick call to flight service before a flight is always good. There is a lot to comment on, but I would review the video with your CFI or an experienced pilot at your club or FBO for the errors, mitigation’s and learning opportunities. Glad all were safe. Pucker factor 6.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thanks for the tips!

[@richardmedina9046]

Hi Ben just started watching your videos ,mostly are funny this one in particular not funny and I'm glad you guys made it alive. VFR into IMC pilot killer.I fly cherokee out of FRG I met Doron few times nice guy. Looking to upgrade maybe Dakota or V tail maybe next year if we ever get out of Quarantine lol stay safe

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Richard, thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, I do feel lucky.

[@ChadWachter]

Nice job at getting yourself out of IMC. You handled everything good. Nice job.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Chad, thank you for taking time to comment. Your subscription would be appreciated.

[@skrutinizr9372]

You see that green stuff under the clouds? If you fly under the clouds, you can then still see the green stuff. You're lucky you aren't dead, but it's not because you're good enough to "recover" but by pure luck this time. Keep making bad decisions and they'll be putting the chunks of your passengers in zip-lock bags as they clean up the crash scene. The layer was completely avoidable and visible in plenty of time for which to adjust altitude in the correct direction. Good grief...

[@bernardanderson7569]

Before you left did you do a weather briefing?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Yes, I did. Unfortunately, it was off. The front forecast moved west 8 hours faster then predicted. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@trickedouttech321]

'This guy should have had his wife learn the tablet and software. You don't have to be a pilot to help take the load off of the pilot. what is the deal with all these men flying with their wives and the wife just sitting there while the pilot is getting behind the plane? it makes no sense. I bet she would like to help and be a part of the flight. The spouse that does not want to be a pilot but loves flying with their husband or vice-versa, should learn how to read the gauge use the software, and help out in times when the pilot is getting behind the plane. Especially then they fly together a lot. You can plan all you want, but sooner or later you will get into a tight spot & team playing might save your life.

[@kiffer211]

Skip to 11 minutes for real content.

[@gscop1683]

Smart ADM Ben !

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank for watching and encouragement.

[@mambripapuabiak6379]

Love your Video

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@alvinwilliams441]

If not IFR/IMC rated, just don't go if the weather en-route is questionable!!!!!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I can't argue with that. P.S I've attained my IFR rating early this year and I love it. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@aliebalieb6731]

Thanks for the experience. But to be honest...you should look out much more then be distracted by workload inside the cockpit. The result was obvious as we can see.You had the level-control all over the place. But after all at the end good airmen ship with landing a.s.a.p.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Agreed. Thank you for watching and your suggestion.

[@hunterscoffield7970]

Ben that turn about cost you your life. Remember wings level gather your bearings trust that artificial horizon like your life depends on it. In reality that cloud imposed no danger I’m sure there was no possibly ice and no real terrain around you that only became dangerous when you executed that bank.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Hunter, I agree that you absolutely must trust your instruments in these situations. As per my PPL training (thank you Captain Doron), that 180 degree turn and keeping altitude (within reason) saved us. Although, prevention would have been the better move :) Thanks again Hunter, and please subscribe to the channel.

[@bangaloremusic]

180 turn was exactly the proper procedure. Continuing on in IMC would likely have ended poorly.

[@diablopilot]

From the moment you taxied onto the runway you were ill prepared to make the flight. It seems you put more attention and preparation into producing a video rather than conducting a safe flight. Consider some remedial training, clean up ALL aspects of your flying, starting with preflight weather, pretakeoff checks, and clear, concise communications.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for commenting.

[@akalksander9184]

Cursing yoker when flying into IMC turn & maintain your altitude & airspeed.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

That's was my intention, but given the stress, it was a challenge. Nothing that IFR rating won't cure, which is my plan. Thank you for watching and your feedback.

[@akalksander9184]

@@TheRealAviatorBen Stressful to say the least. There are pilots that can't manage to get their IFR rating. The military uses two pilots on helicopters. When in hostile situations the copilot calls out airspeed & altitude. Maybe you can train your wife to assist you in those situations to call them out for you as you're managing the situation. VFR into IMC, one of the deadliest combinations.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@akalksander9184 Excellent idea re my wife calling airspeed and altitude. Thanks again.

[@kentvonmiddledorm677]

Scud flying. Yikes. Making a coordinated turn in IMC. Made me sick just watching. Glad it worked out.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching and sharing. I got my IFR ratings since then and never looked back on this unfortunate incident. Happy & Safe Flying!

[@kentvonmiddledorm677]

What’s unbelievable about KZbin is that because of your work to produce and put up this video, anybody who wants to be a better pilot can learn from your experience, not just you and your wife. Thanks. Man…. That was sketchy:)@@TheRealAviatorBen

[@kentvonmiddledorm677]

And it happened sooo fast!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@kentvonmiddledorm677 I appreciate it. I feel that other pilots shouldn't be ashamed to post their mistakes on KZbin so others can learn from them as well. A good pilot is always learning, a better pilot learns from someone else's mistakes. Thanks again for sharing.

[@Birdskyhigh]

Atc said altitude at discretion like 3 times why not go lower

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Nathaniel, I didn't feel comfortable going lower that 1,000 ft. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@747Durango]

From the word "Ooops" I thought this whole thing looked a bit shakey.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Yes, it was a lesson that I'll never forget. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@Aquavidify]

and Z for Zebra

[@Thatflyguy747]

i’ve got a phone number for you to copy.

[@bangaloremusic]

LOL

[@skykingjwc]

No autopilot ?

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Unfortunately, this plane has single axis A/P. I was reluctant to use it given that it was my first flight on this plane.

[@freilichr]

Descending right turn with an increasing bank angle in zero viz - AKA death spiral and typical VFR into IMC. A quick check of the flight instruments would have made this a non-event. Go back to training, bud.

[@thud9797]

How about that seat belt? Very dangerous to fly like this.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I always put on my seat belts. If you are referring to my shoulder belt I'll admit that I put it under my arm because it cuts into my neck. I know it's a poor excuse, but..... Do you have a shoulder belt as well? Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@antonluckhoff3416]

As a non pilot what happens if you fly into cloud but you have a auto pilot, will that not get you out of trouble?

[@wilkibr]

The primary benefit of an autopilot in this situation is that, assuming the AP is engaged, it will keep the wings level and prevent the pilot from over-controlling the airplane due to spatial disorientation, which can lead to loss of control and an accident. If you notice in the video, once he encountered the cloud, he panicked and began overbanking the aircraft in a rushed attempt to fly back to visual conditions. For a non instrument rated pilot like this guy, that often leads to an accident. This is similar to what occurred with JFK Jr when he lost visual reference at night.

[@antonluckhoff3416]

Brian Wilkins thank you that explains a lot✈️👍

[@thomastucker5686]

I'm thinking, just ask for vectors to the airport and stop struggling.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thomas, I lost radio communication with the ATC because I was too low for that area. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@thomastucker5686]

@@TheRealAviatorBen In the video the weather doesn't look that bad. I know in reality, that is not the case. At what altitude do you lose ATC in that region? When I was thinking you should ask for vectors, you were still communicating with ATC. I thought at that point you had already decided being on the ground was the best place to be.

[@danyrobitaille9312]

Thanks for sharing but please, no more music !

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

My wife likes the background music. Would lowering the music volume help? Thank you for watching and commenting Dany.

[@danyrobitaille9312]

@@TheRealAviatorBen Definitly, I'm not against background music, but in my opinion, it's too loud vs the atc/conversation

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@danyrobitaille9312 Dany, Thank you for clarifying. Will lower the music. I appreciate you taking time for the suggestion. Happy flying and stay safe.

[@danyrobitaille9312]

@@TheRealAviatorBen Awesome, thanks for your answers !

[@southernmarsh4234]

Z z z zebra?

[@jbsack]

Get your rating before you kill someone please

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Working on it as we speak. Thank you for your feedback. Please subscribe to follow my IFR progress. Thanks again for watching.

[@robajohnson]

Said "Get your rating before you kill someone please " Wow! The vast majority of pilots are VFR only and the VAST majority of them go a lifetime of flying without killing anyone. To imply you must be IFR rated to be safe is an irresponsible and frankly just a stupid statement. If you are a pilot then SHAME on you for throwing such ugly shade on aviation as a whole and the millions of safe VFR pilots out there. It's a damn shame when the enemy is one of us.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

@@robajohnson Right on point. Thank you for bringing reality to the discussion.

[@jbsack]

robajohnson True, as long as those VFR pilots aren’t flying into clouds or scud running. In that case, you are absolutely wrong as there are plenty examples of pilots and their passengers dying. I was not implying that VFR pilots kill people. Just VFR pilots that fly into clouds......

[@robajohnson]

@@jbsack " I was not implying that VFR pilots kill people.” Maybe that is not what you meant to say but that is EXACTLY what you did say! “Just VFR pilots that fly into clouds......" Well, ok. BTW you should have left the "you are wrong" out of your reply. 1) It would have made you a bit more sincere about trying to be accurate instead of just being a virtue signaler. 2) Then I would not have to school you even more! ;) Just because “there are plenty examples of pilots and their passengers dying” still does not make what I said, "The VAST majority of VFR pilots never kill anyone" wrong. Getting past that basic English comprehension issue, we have the reality that since no one anywhere has ANY data about how many people do scud run and never kill anyone you simply can’t make that statement. You only know how many did not make it. That is just basic stats right there. It’s the exact same problem we have in determining the real safety record of single engine operation in twins. We know about every Vmc rollover and crash but we simply do not know how many people lost an engine and landed uneventfully. So we just can’t say. {shrug} Pilots should be precise, IFR pilots even more so. You need work on your precision.

[@raajashtaputre2803]

I’m glad you survived but many alarming observations… your atc communication is somewhat subpar especially that you don’t use pilots alphabets. Then your eyes were not on instruments while in IMC though unintentionally… please plan better with weather and good luck.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Raaj, Thank you for watching and you candid observations. Happy & a Safe Flying New Year!

[@raajashtaputre2803]

@@TheRealAviatorBen Thanks for taking it in the right spirit and I wish you & your loved ones a very happy & safe yet fun New Year.

[@wilkibr]

I believe you are doing a considerable disservice to the flying community. First, portraying flight into IMC as "terror" is silly. Any competent and qualified pilot can fly in IMC much more dense than what you encountered for hours at a time and have no issue whatsoever. It is done regularly by myself and others. People should not be terrified of it. Rather, they should become qualified to handle it. Second, it is apparent from your video that although you are apparently not instrument rated, you spend nearly all of your time looking inside the aircraft, presumably working with your radios, navigation devices, etc rather than keeping your focus outside of the aircraft which is where it should be when flying VFR. If you had done so, you could have easily avoided flying into IMC unexpectedly in broad daylight. I highly suggest that you 1) stop misrepresenting flying as some "terror" that should be feared, 2) sell your video equipment, and 3) use the money from 2 to pay for some time with a CFII to obtain proper flying skills.

[@robajohnson]

You guys up on your high horses amaze me… Like you were never wet behind the ears low time pilots “Any competent and qualified pilot can fly (in hard IMC) ” But he is not qualified for IMC hence the terror. I mean derp! “First, portraying flight into IMC as "terror" is silly.” 1) Hmmmm, so all those instructors and student manuals and FAA approved lesson plans all telling student pilots that IMC=death until you get your IFR rating must be doing a disservice to aviation as well? I mean you act like VFR into IMC is not one of the top killers in aviation or something. We teach young pilots to fear IMC on purpose. Fear has is a very powerful modifier of behavior. 2) I've been flying since ‘91 and the thought of encountering icing terrifies me. Who do you think you are to tell me what I can or can’t be terrified of? (also that terror makes me REAL careful about icing conditions)

[@wilkibr]

@@robajohnson "High horses"?? As in we got ourselves qualified to operate an aircraft within the conditions for which we are flying? Those "high horses"? Or do you mean the "high horses" of when we are flying VFR we look out the window and don't fly into clouds? Or maybe you mean the "high horses" of not making poor aeronautical choices and then losing our shit, followed by making a fool out of ourselves by posting it on KZbin calling it "terror" which we brought on ourselves? Most student pilots have better aeronautical decision making and flying skills than this guy. He did multiple stupid things. Any pilot can see that.

[@robajohnson]

@@wilkibr I made my points clear. Don't try to put other words in my mouth. And yeah, I mean the exact same arrogant high horse you're trying to use on me right now.

[@wilkibr]

@@robajohnson I have zero arrogance as a pilot. I am well aware of my skills and what I can and cannot safely fly in. I am not, however, "afraid" as you put it. I have a respect for the aircraft, my skills, and the conditions, and I operate within those tolerances. As long as I continue to do that, there is no need for fear. This guy did not fly within his and his aircraft's capabilities and then decided to post a video showing his FAR violation on KZbin. If you fly like this individual does, please just stay on the ground because although I find your comments ignorant, I have no desire to see you dead as this poster will be if he continues to fly in a fragrantly unsafe manner.

[@robajohnson]

​@@wilkibr You KEEP trying to put words in my mouth with straw man arguments. Can't you make a legitimate reply to what I ACTUALLY SAID without misrepresenting what I said? You could if you were not such a stuck up ass wallowing around up there on your high horse. “I have zero arrogance as a pilot. “ Your ACTIONS belie your words. I guess you are just too arrogant to ever realize how arrogant you are? “and I operate within those tolerances.” So, you NEVER busted a minimum, you have NEVER blown a clearance, you have NEVER scared yourself? What a bunch of bullshit. Not a pilot in the world will buy all that BS you are shoveling -- which is why only one other person, either not a pilot or a total asshat as well, gave you an upcheck on your original post. Get over yourself superman. Now either make a valid and intelligent reply about something I ACTUALLY SAID or slink away in the shame you should feel for your inability to comprehend English and your inability to self-detect what an asshole you are behaving like.

[@jonnimart1]

Known as "Advertent IFR"... (Knew for miles that the ceiling was coming down). However, did a 180 and "got out of Dodge"...

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Absolutely correct. Thank you for commenting.

[@superskullmaster]

She shouldn’t be operating the GPS and radios if she doesn’t know what she is doing.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I was trying to teach her for the 1st time so she'll be able to be involved next time. My mistake, however, was to be distracted by it while I was flying in obviously deteriorating weather conditions. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@chrisc161]

Been there down it. Not fun.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Chris, yes, it was definitely scary. It taught me a good lesson in how fast can weather conditions can deteriorate that I will never forget.

[@johnmajane3731]

Why would you climb up into it when it was clear below? You risked your passengers life doing what you did. Irresponsible, we as pilots have a sacred duty to do what we need to to ensure our passengers safety. You need some work with an instructor, two hands on the yoke while landing? The plane should be trimmed and you need one hand on the throttle. You were on the verge of going into a PIO situation on landing also. Not good.

[@DZ-rg7jt]

A) Because he's an idiot. B) He made this so he can get views/subscribers to.gis channel.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I'm totally impressed by your vocabulary and your ability to express yourself. In any event thank you for watching.

[@johnmajane3731]

I saw your reply, the reasoning is flawed. You chose to go IMC where the chances of you losing control or hitting a tower or other obstacle you cannot see is greater. Poor decision making and you risked an innocent person's life.

[@peterphil9686]

Makes me somewhat concerned to see such newbies so indecisive when decisions are required

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Peter, I don't think that this applies only to 'newbies' as you state. If so, you'd never hear of 'seasoned', or even IFR rated pilots that run and sometimes are killed in VFR to IMC. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@tntkop]

Is it really a true IMC when you can still see the ground? I could still see the horizon off your left wing. And we all know the camera makes visibility seem worse than it really is in real life. This video wasn’t what I expected.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Yes, it was real IMC. I couldn't see the ground and was totally in the soup. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@bangaloremusic]

Welcome to the armchair 'pilot' lounge .....

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Absolutely, but I tend to focus on the constructive criticisms to help improve my knowledge. Thank you for commenting and watching.

[@pmckin92]

Maybe I’m being a ass. But why even wear a seatbelt when flying? It’s not going to save your ass if you go down

[@cpfwriter]

It absolutely can, it depends. If ole Aviator Ben had ended up in a vertical dive straight into terra firma then yes, it's not gonna help. But a lot of crash landings are edge affairs, careening in at an angle where every little bit helps. I just read an accident report for a small single where the pilot died and the passenger lived. The engine-out aircraft landed in a field with fences at both ends, and they hit one. One shoulder belt didn't function properly and the pilot cracked his head on the panel. The belt--much like what you have in a car--worked for the passenger, restraining him upon impact with the fence, and he lived.

[@ogc90]

FAR 91.155 (a)

[@acirinelli]

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here, but I feel like you’re just chasing subscribers and this is a terrible way to do it.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

What so terrible about showing my mistake so others can learn from it - I certainly learned my lesson.

[@DirtNerds]

should have stopped at airport that was only 11 miles away! Poor decision making kills people

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I'm sure you mean well, however, I did land at the airport closest to me, 3R7 as per ATC advice.

[@DirtNerds]

@@TheRealAviatorBen ok sorry it seemed in the video you traveled to the one 33 miles away. thanks for making that clear. Great Job!

[@richardheinichen8279]

your training was not that great. 500 below...or maybe your memory...

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

I disagree. My training was great. Unfortunately, when you are under stress some of it goes out the window. If that was not the case, you would never hear of professional pilots crash planes in emergency situation. I would agree that more practice with a CFI would definitely help. In any case, thank you for watching and commenting.

[@jensjehnes7367]

Change your name to Flying Rooky Ben. I believe the term Aviator belongs to pilots who at least know what they're doing. Please be careful in your learning curve before you become statistics and use your seatbelt. Long way to go!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Every aviator starts as a rookie, including yourself. Obviously, you missed the point that this video, i.e., shows how chain of errors could have lead to a disaster very quickly.

[@therealstateofjefferson6889]

Ben, I am a twenty thousand hour ATP.....you did ok, and most important you learned something from the experience. Continue and get your instrument rating. If you don’t have one get a simple autopilot. An another commenter wrote, it takes guts to post a mistake, and I applaud you for it.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching and your encouragement. I do appreciate it. It was a very good lesson for me. In fact, I cut my flight short today because the clouds were about 4,000 and getting lower at which point I decided to head back. I will definitely continue my IFR training.

[@slopsec2358]

Man you are lucky to be alive. Do you know how many people do that and end up leaving a smoking hole? Go get your IFR ticket please.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Working on it as we speak :) Thank you for your comment and please subscribe to the channel.

[@dnabuaf1]

Thanks for posting, glad you're safe. All of your decisions were good, except for one...you saw the IMC well in advance. Get your Instrument ticket, if you own a plane, instrument ticket will come in handy. GREAT job on keeping the altitude in the turn!!!

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank you for watching and your encouragement.

[@barisyildirim4167]

Thanks for posting this. Great lesson for all of us vfr pilots

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Baris, thank you for commenting.

[@asshucks]

This happened to me when I was training for my private pilot. Luckily my instructor was with me and it was a small cloud. I think he let me do it on purpose just to see how quickly one can get disoriented in the clouds and how fast it can happen. Thanks for posting this so others can learn even though yes technically you should have been 500 below clouds etc... I'm instrument/commercial rated now and what it has tought me is that you really have to "pilot" the aircraft. Just having the rating means I have the experience to know not to fly into clouds accidentally and make active decisions instead of just waiting to see what happens. Hopefully other pilots out there learn from this video and give the skies the respect it needs to stay safe.

[@TheRealAviatorBen]

Thank for your encouragement and feedback.