Cessna 172 drama tonight

[Guest David C]

I've just been monitoring the plight of a C172 pilot who was lost above cloud in the Blue Mountains area . The pilot called on 124.55 saying he was unsure of his position and requested tracking to Bathurst . It appears that the pilot was on his 3rd solo and had become lost and above cloud . He was having great difficulty maintaining VFR and found himself in and out of cloud at 9000' . With the help of a Rex S340 c/c Rex188 who was enroute from SYD to Orange the Cessna pilot managed to get back to Bathurst in failing light and running low on fuel . I must say it the first time I had monitored such a drama . The professionalism of the ATC officer and the crew of the Saab was extraordinary . The Saab slowed right down so that the Cessna could maintain visual contact and guided the pilot right into the Bathurst circuit area , while relaying radio transmissions from Sydney radar at the same time . The ATC instructed the Cessna pilot in enrichng and leaning the fuel mixture to ensure maximum endurance , and the teamwork ensured that the young pilot is here to fly another day ... Well done to the crew of Rex 188 , whose passengers must have wondered why the aircraft was flying so slow and in a weaving motion , and also to the great professionalism of the ATC crew ... It was stressful listening , I hate to think how the young Cessna pilot felt ..

 

Dave C

 

 

[Pete777]

Thanks very much Dave for sharing this.

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Thanks for sharing Dave. Absolutely perfect outcome!