I heard the prenstation yesterday by CFI Edwars on 4 IFR fatal accidents. He had recorded flight info from onboard computers and/or radar tracks so there were the facts no just opinions of what happened. In all 4 cases, A Cirrus, a PC-12 and I think a turbo Bonanza the causes were similar. The pilot often listed IFR time in his logbooks but in fact didnt seem to have real experience in imc. In one case he bought a new , Cirrus which entitled him to a free IFR checkout but he refused the training. I think the PC-12 pilot may be similar went to SIM Com but didnt complete the IFR training or IPC. The seller of the turbo conversion also tried to get the buyer not to fly in IFM without training but was refused.
In all cases it seems the pilot was relying on the autopilot to do almost all the flying, including in IMC and the accidents occured that way. In one case , in imc on approach the autopilot dropped off and the pilot turned it on and off 3 times trying to get it to capture the ILS, withouf success.
To knowingly go into IMC without being pretty good and prepared seems really regretable to me. I ve done an IPC each year for insurance requirements and I can flly the needles ok and I pass every one, but I dont look for IMC and would be very reluctant to try a trip that requrides solo flight for hours in IMC especially in a fast airplane.