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News & Media Technique

Escape plan

Strategies for inadvertent IMC encounters

April 12, 2023 By Ian J. Twombly
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Flying into the clouds or in poor visibility without an instrument rating is an extremely dangerous thing to do.
Illustration by Charles Floyd
Illustration by Charles Floyd

Cloud class

Learn what they look and feel like

Flying in the clouds is one of the few emergencies that private pilots can practice during training. An instrument flight with a qualified instructor is an hour well spent, not necessarily to perfect your skills, but to learn what it looks and feels like to fly in the clouds. They have various characteristics.

Cumulus—Since cumulus clouds have vertical development, they are often bumpy and relatively quick to fly through. The light provides clues as to the cloud’s severity. The darker it is inside the nastier it will be. Brighter skies ahead provide the quickest exit.

Low overcast—Without detailed weather reporting, it can be hard to know when a low layer of overcast from say, a warm front, will end. Often these have less vertical development, so climbing might be the right escape plan.

Poor visibility—Don’t underestimate how disorienting poor visibility can be, even in the absence of clouds. Use weather reports to fly toward areas of better weather.

A safe outcome requires an escape plan. Every situation and weather pattern is unique, so the plan is frustratingly vague. Yet, following a few important principles will help keep you safe.

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1. Don't panic

It may sound like obvious advice, but don’t panic. Airplanes fly the same in clouds as they do in the clear, so unless you’re in a massive thunderstorm or picking up ice, you are the biggest risk factor in the situation. Keep flying the airplane. Do whatever it takes to stay calm. Take a deep breath, talk to yourself, or intensify your focus. In other words, take a second to ensure you are still in charge.

2. Assess the situation

Often the advice to escape inadvertent encounters with instrument conditions is to make a 180-degree turn back. That might be the right tactic, but it might not. Is the cloud getting brighter? Going straight ahead might be faster. Did you brush up against the bottom? A quick descent will suffice. Think first, and then act.

3. Aviate, then navigate

Your only job at this moment is to maintain control of the airplane. Worrying about where you are and where you’re going can come later. It’s easiest to fly straight and level, and the easiest way to do that is to maintain a focus on the attitude indicator. If turning around seems like the best option, keep the bank to less than 20 degrees and don’t worry about being exact on the rollout heading.

4. Ask for help

Only if you’re sure that you’ll be in the clouds a long time does it make sense to ask air traffic control for help. That’s because the attention required to tune the radio, activate the frequency, and then speak is all focus that should be dedicated to flying the airplane. ATC will ask you lots of questions that will require you to further divide your attention, such as your location and altitude, number of people aboard, and so on. If you need help getting down from being stuck on top, or you’re cruising in a large area of poor visibility, it’s a good idea to ask for help. Otherwise, focus on flying.


Ian J. Twombly

Ian J. Twombly

Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.
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