AOPA Never Again

A new pilot takes a warm summer night practice flight at a vacant but familiar airport, but the pilot finds difficulty with his approaches. Climbing out for the fourth time, he began to worry landing before running out of fuel...and botched the next two approaches as well...

Jacksonville Center handed me off to Orlando Approach and I dialed in and activated the new frequency. I keyed the mike and reported my altitude and receipt of ATIS. Then, just as the controller acknowledged my transmission and began to provide my next clearance, the cockpit suddenly went dark. The transition from a fully functioning airplane to being totally void of electricity had taken less than 60 seconds...

The worst flight I ever made was an attempt to do a favor for a friend. My friend’s grandfather had recently passed away, and his family thought spreading his ashes over his ranch in Oklahoma would be a memorable and fitting tribute. I had been flying for almost 20 years and was honored to be able to fulfill this simple request. I turned the jar sideways and pushed the open end into the open window, hoping the slipstream would carry the ashes away. The slipstream took hold all right, but not in the way I intended...

I’m a knowledgeable, careful, cautious pilot, right? Unfortunately, no, I’m not. And here’s why: A few years ago I took a cross-country trip during which I made so many mistakes and errors of judgment it’s a wonder I am still here to write about it.