AOPA Never Again

Finding an Open Space (April 2024)

Scud Running the Hudson (March 2024)

If lights, landmarks, and even buildings disappear and then reappear, you might be scud running. (By Ben Moses) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA...

Warbird Woes (February 2024)

The trials, tribulations, and dangers of owning a warbird. (By Robert Nielsen)

On Human Factors (January 2024)

Hard decisions must be made when it comes to contradicting your instructor. Who's really in charge? (By Greg Faris) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue...

Plume, Fume, or Doom? (December 2023)

The dangers and flying in and around smoke. (By Laurel Johnson) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this...

Get Me Home Clarence (November 2023)

A Grumman pilot neglects a checklist item and nearly pays a heavy price. By Bob Lamberton.

Rock Collector (October 2023)

A student pilot learns whose job it is to preflight the airplane. (By William Satterburg) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and...

Checklist Discpline (September 2023)

An overheated iPad, an unfamiliar aircraft, a missed checklist item, and convective weather at the destination airport. Sounds like a chain of events. Find out how quick decision making saved the day--but not the stomach contents--of a King Air full...

Tip Vortex (August 2023)

A pilot directly experiences wingtip vortices, and they're frightening. Find out what happens. (By Jim Gardner)

Into the Soup (July 2023)

If you decide to fly IFR, be sure you'll fully briefed, including terminal procedures. One pilot learned this in a rather startling way. (By Rod Callison)

Cloud Cover (June 2023)

Unforecast IMC: It can happen at any time and come from anywhere--like over the ridge of that mountain we're rapidly approaching. What would you do? (By Larry Landau)

Trading Places (May 2023)

Three missed approaches. And where are we? See if you can be the first to spot the ground. (By David Wiseman) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in...

VFR into IMC (April 2023)

Hawaii may be a paradise, but not for a VFR pilot flying into IMC. Find out what happens. (By Brian Delamer) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA...

The Parallax Doesn't Lie (March 2023)

There's lots of stories in aviation about not having enough fuel. But when do you have too much? (By Carmine Mowbray) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA...

Six-Right Surprise (February 2023)

Don't land on taxiways. Just don't. Find out what led a pilot to do just that. (By Doug Magill) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like to share with others? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story in AOPA...

Anticipation of Adventure (January 2023)

The iPad has become an invaluable tool until it breaks loose from its mount and jams the controls. Tighten down that clamp and ride along. (By Tom Fournier) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like to share with others? Email...

Risky Weather (December 2022)

Risk--what is it, and how do you mitigate it, especially with regards to the weather? And how much risk is too much? Find out what happens when risk is mismanaged. (By Preston Harrison) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like...

Fire is Not Your Friend (November 2022)

Nothing like a fire to liven up a phase check. Check that the fire extinguisher has a full charge. (By James Nova) Do you have a Never Again you'd like to share with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we...

Along for the Ride (October 2022)

Do you know how to disconnect your autopilot and do you have a backup plan for when the primary plan doesn't work? Find how many tries it might take. (By John Jacobi) Do you have your own Never Again story to...

Into a Monster (September 2022)

Ever wonder what it's like to fly directly into a thunderstorm? Fly along with someone who's been there. By Steve Weaver Got a Never Again to share with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA Pilot...

That Nagging Feeling (August 2022)

Does a partial engine failure constitute an emergency? Find out one pilot's opinion. By Dr. Amanda M. Stahl. Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish yours in AOPA Pilot magazine.

Geese on Final (July 2022)

Birds hit the side of the airplane and we fall out of a tree. We'll enjoy a Sully moment of our own. (By Rodney Whipple) Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish...

See or Be Seen (June 2022)

A Coast Guard air crew member witnesses first hand the necessity of approaching backcountry flights with rescue and survivability in mind. (By Thomas W. Gross) Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish...

Thunderstorms in the vicinity (May 2022)

In this episode, sure you can avoid thunderstorms, but can you avoid the turbulence associated with them? Strap in tight--and I mean real tight. By Christopher Lyon. Got a Never Again you'd like to share? Send it to [email protected] ande...

Jump, son, jump (April 2022)

Throwing your son out the door of your Citabria? Pack that parachute and strap in. By Dominick Trivisanno. Do you have a Never Again story to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story and feature it on the...

Night time fuel burn (March 2022)

When was the last time you asked for a DF steer? It's time we asked for one. (By Steve Samuelson) Have you had a flying experience that made you say "Never again!"? Send us an email and we may publish...

Autopilot Mayhem (February 2022)

It's night. You're flying single pilot IFR and George has left the building. Pull the breaker? Tried that. Now what? (By Joe T. May) See the online version of this article. Want to submit a Never Again to AOPA Pilot? Email us.

Suckered in (January 2022)

Climbing to stay in visual meteorological conditions sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. We'll explore the latter. (By Andy Clark)

Out of focus (December 2021)

An SR20 and a wobbly iPad prove not to be mutually beneficial. Ride along, but maybe leave your iPad at home (by Juan B. Plaza)

Personal minimums (October 2021)

Flying single engine over the mountains at night in a vintage airplane. What could go wrong? (By Jim Pitman)

Speeding toward the trees (September 2021)

By Steve Ells.

Engine out at night (July 2021)

A night-time cross-country almost ends in disaster for want of a 50-cent part. (By Tom Hildebrandt)

Where are the towers? (June 2021)

A medical helicopter pilot flies into night IMC. Where are the towers? (By Byron Edgington.)

What doesn't kill us (May 2021)

An icy diversion to JFK. Grab your winter gloves and fly along. By Charmaine Sperling

Night fright (April 2021)

Get there itis and a lack of night experience cause a stressful flight over north Florida. (By Douglas Kiefer)

In the dark (March 2021)

The unusual layout of controls creates a problem for the pilot of a Piper Tri-Pacer. By Gilbert Halacz.

Pop quiz (February 2021)

When, and how, to defer to an older pilot in an emergency situation? Find out one opinion. By Paul Locander.

Smoke in the cockpit (January 2021)

Smoke in the cockpit and a partial avionics failure make for an interesting flight. (By Alex Jones)

I Knew I Was Rusty (December 2020)

it's been said aviation accidents are caused not by one bad decision but by a chain of them. How about seven? Find out what's going on. (By James Witt)

Rental Pilot Reluctance (November 2020)

Do you pay attention to small things or do you wait until they become big things? Find out one pilot's opinion. (By Sebastian Teunissen)

Whispers of trouble (October 2020)

Do you really need to inspect the oil filter after every oil change? Read one pilot's perspective. (By Rusty Herrington)

Deadly decisions (September 2020)

A teardrop turn between two ridgelines in IMC? Sounds dangerous. Find out the grim results. (By Gary Deck)

In a Pickle (August 2020)

We've all had some stinky flights but this is ridiculous. (By Bob DelValle)

Run Dry (July 2020)

A bush pilot unsuccessfully calculates fuel instead of looking at the tanks. By Steve Ells.

Close Call (June 2020)

Flying a race plane is different from flying just about anything else. Find out what happened on this pilot's maiden flight. (By W. G. Hill)

Mother's Day Get-there-itis (May 2020)

A Mother's Day promise to his wife and mother caused one pilot to push his limits. (By Tom Snow)

Floatplane Pain (April 2020)

Bad decisions often start with good intentions. (By Pat Haseltine)

Close Call (March 2020)

How does a pilot miss seeing a Boeing 747? (By William Kramer)

Into the Corn (February 2020)

Is a cornfield a good choice for an off airport landing? Sometimes you have no other option. (By Scott S. Thomas)

Sputtering into Vegas (January 2020)

A 182 pilot discovers fuel gauges don't always tell the whole story. (By Dave Houghton)